San Jose doesn’t want plastic bags, case wrap in recycling. So what should you do with them?

San Jose early this month called out 10 common items mistakenly tossed into curbside recycling bins. That triggered a deluge of readers wanting to know just where those materials actually should go.

The city says misplaced items increase costs for San Jose’s recycling contractors to “properly sort and dispose of these items.” Top culprits include plastic bags and case wrap as well as expanded polystyrene products like Styrofoam packaging peanuts, cups, and to-go containers. Chip bags with reflective foil linings and everyday household items – such as garden hoses, diapers, plastic hangers, and toys – also cannot go in the curbside recycle bins.

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So what should San Jose residents do with these items?

For residents confused about proper disposal, two official online resources detail which items can be recycled: SanJoseRecycles.org, run by the city, and RecycleStuff.org, a regional directory managed in collaboration with the San Jose Conservation Corps and Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

These sites cover recycling and disposal guidelines for a wide range of materials, including household appliances, art supplies, automotive waste, baby gear, and batteries. Residents are advised to call drop-off locations ahead of time to confirm current hours and acceptance policies.

While plastic bags and case wrap can go in the regular garbage, several local grocery stores and retail locations accept clean plastic film for specialized recycling.

For pizza boxes, San Jose advises putting greasy or oil-stained bottoms into the garbage. However, clean cardboard tops can be torn off and recycled – provided they aren’t lined with plastic, foil, or wax. Similarly, other food-soiled paper items – including napkins, paper towels, tissues, greasy takeout boxes, and paper coffee cups — cannot be recycled and belong in the garbage. Other cities and counties may have different guidelines for these materials.

For textiles and clothing, the city suggests residents donate them to organizations such as Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Hope Services, and RAFT.

While aluminum, glass, plastic, and bi-metal beverage containers can go directly into curbside recycling, they can also be redeemed for cash through the California Redemption Value program, which pays 5 cents for containers smaller than 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger.

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Hazardous materials such as electronic waste, antifreeze, motor oil, paint, lighters, and pepper spray require special handling and can be scheduled for a free drop-off appointment with Santa Clara County.

For non-hazardous bulky items like mattresses or furniture, residents can schedule a free curbside pickup through San José 311.

All other items on the city’s top 10 list belong in the regular trash, but residents can check SanJoseRecycles.org to look up any unfamiliar materials.

While city officials emphasized the need to keep improving recycling habits, they noted that recent progress has already led to significant taxpayer savings. According to a 2024 study, San Jose’s recycling contamination rate fell to 41% from 57% in 2022. City officials said the drop reduces contractor compensation by $6.5 million each year from 2025 through 2027.