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1. Are bags accepted in the green, organics container?

Plastic bags, and any other plastic, are not accepted in the organics container. However, certified biodegradable bags and brown paper bags are allowed. You may consider using newspapers to wrap your organic waste as well.

2. How do I keep my green, organics containers clean and free of rodents?

Here are seven tips and tricks to help keep your organics container free of rodents and clean:

1. Regularly wash your kitchen compost pail with soap and water and rinse your green organics cart.
2. Line the bottom of your kitchen pail and green organics cart with newspaper, cardboard, or paper towels to absorb moisture.
3. Freeze meat scraps in a reusable container and only put them into your green organics cart on collection day.
4. Lightly sprinkle baking soda into your kitchen pail and green organics cart to absorb odors.
5. Layer wet materials (food scraps) and dry materials (leaves, clippings, and branches) in your green organics cart to reduce the chances of material sticking to your container.
6. Place wet materials (food scraps) into a paper bag or certified biodegradable bag before placing them into your green organics cart.
7. Keep your cart lids tightly closed.

3. Do I recycle or compost pizza boxes?

Clean paper and cardboard should be recycled and placed in your blue, recycling container. Food-soiled paper and cardboard is not recyclable but is compostable and should be placed in your green, organics container. If your pizza box has grease or other food residues, place it in your green, organics container.

4. Do I need to pay more for organic waste and recycling collection?

No. Services come at a bundled rate. Residential accounts receive one refuse, recycling, and organics/yard waste cart at a standard rate. Additional carts come at an extra charge. Visit Solid Waste & Recycling | Alhambra, CA (cityofalhambra.org) for all rates.

5. What if I already have a compost bin at home? Can I be excluded from organics service?

The state law requires mandatory compliance with organics recycling collection service. If you already compost at home, look at this as an opportunity to complement your home system and properly dispose of items that cannot normally go in your home compost. There are many waste types that should not go into a home composting bin but can be composted through this program including meat, grains, packaged and processed food, and food-soiled paper such as dirty paper napkins.

6. What if I refuse to separate my food waste?

The state has made these requirements mandatory and the City has been mandated to enforce them. If Republic Services’ drivers notice contamination in your recycle cart or bin, they may not be able to service it as recycling and may tag it to have it serviced as trash (in which case you may be charged). Noncompliance may result in enforcement actions taken by the City.

7. What happens to the materials I place in my organics recycling cart after they're collected?

Republic Services' drivers collect your organics separately and take it to one of two preprocessing facilities. Here, contaminants are separated out and the remainder is pulverized into a thick slurry. The material is then takern to one of two composting facilities. Using a variety of processes including windrow composting and covered aerated static pile composting, organic material is processed into compost. This compost is then given back to the community at Alhambra Recycles Events and can be used in gardens as nutrient-rich soil additive!

8. How does recycling food waste relate to climate change?

California is now experiencing the effects of a climate crisis: hotter summers with world record-breaking temperatures, even more devastating fire seasons, more extreme droughts, and rising sea levels that erode our coastlines.

Scientists tell us that landfills are responsible for 21% of the state’s methane emissions, a gas that is 84 times more potent that carbon dioxide and significant contributor to climate change. Organic materials make up about half of California's waste stream, and food waste is the largest single waste stream. Therefore, organic waste recycling not only reduces emissions, but reduces the impacts of climate change and contributes valuable resources (such as compost) to our communities.

9. How clean do items need to be to recycle?

Recyclables should be empty, clean, and dry. Be sure to remove any food waste and keep recyclables bag free.

Some containers, such as peanut butter jars, require more effort to clean. A simple rinse will do.

10. How do I recycle cardboard?

Unsoiled cardboard (e.g. clean cardboard boxes, newspapers, and paper) must be flattened and recycled in your blue, recycling container. 

Soiled cardboard (e.g. cardboard/paper with grease stains or food residue) must be composted in your green, organics container.