Berkeley's Zero Waste Program: A Landlord's Guide to Helping New Tenants Get It Right

Berkeley's Zero Waste program works best when residents understand what belongs in each collection cart—and just as importantly, what doesn't.

Many move-in issues, overflowing carts, contaminated recycling, and bulky items left at the curb can be prevented simply by providing tenants with clear expectations from the beginning.

BPOA has created the following guide for members to share with new residents as part of their move-in packet.

Compost (Green Cart)

The compost cart is for food scraps, yard waste, and food-soiled paper products.

Examples include:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, poultry, fish, and bones
• Dairy products
• Bread, pasta, and rice
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags (without plastic components)
• Eggshells
• Napkins and paper towels
• Greasy pizza boxes and other food-soiled paper

Helpful tip:

When in doubt: If it grew, was food, or is food-soiled paper, it probably belongs in the compost.

Recycling (Blue Cart)

Recycle clean:

• Paper
• Cardboard
• Glass bottles and jars
• Aluminum and steel cans
• Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs accepted by Berkeley's program

Please empty and rinse containers before recycling.

Leave the lids on...

...or remove them and place them in the landfill cart.

Loose plastic lids often become contaminants during the recycling process.

Landfill (Grey Cart or Roll-Off Bin)

The landfill cart or bin (dumpster) is for ordinary household waste that cannot be composted or recycled.

Examples include:

• Plastic film and wrappers
• Styrofoam
• Disposable cleaning wipes
• Broken ceramics and glassware
• Vacuum dust and lint
• Bagged pet waste
• Other ordinary household waste that does not belong in the compost or recycling cart

When in doubt, don't contaminate the recycling. If an item can't be confidently identified as recyclable or compostable, it belongs in the landfill cart.

Padded Mailers

Bubble-wrap mailers are often confusing.

• Reuse them whenever possible.
• Do not place padded mailers in your curbside recycling cart.
• Paper mailers lined with bubble wrap generally belong in the landfill cart.
• Some all-plastic mailers may be recycled through participating plastic film drop-off programs.

When in doubt, don't contaminate the recycling.

Cardboard

Don't just flatten it—cut it down!

Large moving and shipping boxes should be flattened and cut into smaller pieces before being placed in the recycling cart.

Boxes that are merely folded can quickly fill an entire recycling cart, preventing the lid from closing and leaving little room for other residents.

Batteries & Electronics

Never place batteries, electronics, fluorescent bulbs, or similar items in any collection cart.

These materials require special recycling.

Bulky Items

Furniture, mattresses, appliances, televisions, and other oversized items must never be left beside the collection carts or on the curb.

Tenants are responsible for arranging and paying for the proper disposal of oversized waste generated during their tenancy.

A Few Simple Habits Make a Big Difference

Helping tenants understand Berkeley's Zero Waste program from day one can:

• Reduce overflowing carts
• Prevent recycling contamination
• Lower collection problems
• Keep common areas cleaner
• Improve neighbor relations
• Reduce management headaches

Providing a simple guide at move-in is an easy way to establish good habits from the very beginning.

Free Member Download

Included with this article is a printable PDF, Berkeley's Zero Waste Program – A Quick Guide for New Residents.

In addition to the Zero Waste program materials available in the Rental Housing Forms Library, members are encouraged to provide this guide to new tenants at move-in to help reduce recycling contamination, overflowing carts, and common waste-disposal issues.

Download the PDF (click here) and include it with your welcome packet or lease documents.