Recycling & sorting differences — based on Recology South Bay guidelines
3-cart system: blue (recycle), green (organics/compost), gray (landfill). Stricter plastics rules — only #1 & #2 accepted.
Single-stream recycling: accepts all plastics #1–#7, plastic bags, and film plastic in the blue bin. More permissive overall.
| Item | 🟢 Cupertino | 🔵 Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| Plastics | ||
| Plastic bottles (#1 & #2) | ♻️ Blue bin Rinse first |
♻️ Blue bin Rinse first |
| Plastics #3–#7 (tubs, containers) | 🗑️ Landfill Check number on bottom |
♻️ Blue bin All #1–#7 accepted |
| Plastic bags | 🏪 Store drop-off NOT in blue bin |
♻️ Blue bin Bundle together first |
| Plastic wrap / film | 🏪 Store drop-off NOT in blue bin |
♻️ Blue bin Accepted curbside |
| Bubble wrap | 🏪 Store drop-off NOT in blue bin |
♻️ Blue bin Accepted curbside |
| Zip-lock bags | 🏪 Store drop-off NOT in blue bin |
♻️ Blue bin Accepted curbside |
| Flower pots & buckets | 🗑️ Landfill | ♻️ Blue bin Accepted curbside |
| Plastic party cups | 🗑️ Landfill | ♻️ Blue bin Accepted curbside |
| Styrofoam | ⚠️ Special drop-off | ⚠️ Special drop-off |
| Paper & Cardboard | ||
| Newspaper, magazines, paper | ♻️ Blue bin — both cities | |
| Cardboard (flattened) | ♻️ Blue bin — both cities | |
| Greasy pizza box | 🌱 Green bin Compost, not blue bin |
🌱 Green bin Clean ones OK in blue bin |
| Soiled / food-stained paper | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Paper towels & napkins (used) | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Food & Organics | ||
| Fruit & vegetable scraps | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Meat & fish scraps | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Dairy products | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Coffee grounds & filters | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Eggshells | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Yard trimmings & leaves | 🌱 Green organics bin — both cities | |
| Glass & Metal | ||
| Glass bottles & jars | ♻️ Blue bin — both cities. Rinse first. | |
| Aluminum & tin cans | ♻️ Blue bin — both cities. Rinse first. | |
| Aluminum foil | ♻️ Blue bin — ball it up first | |
| Broken glass | 🗑️ Landfill — wrap in newspaper first | |
| Hazardous & Special Items | ||
| Batteries | ⚠️ HHW drop-off only — never in any bin | |
| CFL light bulbs | ⚠️ HHW drop-off (contain mercury) | |
| LED / incandescent bulbs | 🗑️ Landfill — both cities | |
| Electronics | ⚠️ E-waste drop-off — both cities | |
Sources: Recology Cupertino · Recology Santa Clara · City of Santa Clara Environmental Programs