If you want to begin curbside recycling at home,
call San Luis Garbage Company at 543-0875. 

Useful Links:
Integrated Waste Management Authority
Waste Connections

Recycling can benefit us in many ways. Not only does it save expensive landfill space, but it allows us to re-use scarce natural resources. An idea behind recycling is that we can’t continue to throw away what doesn’t really go away.

The State of California has taken it a step further with the Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, otherwise known as AB939. This legislation requires each city and county in California to reduce what residents throw away by 1/2. Fines of up to $10,000 per day may be levied against the City of San Luis Obispo if we fail to meet this goal. That’s your money!

If we do our part, we may find that we need fewer programs and facilities to meet the State mandates, while becoming better managers of our resources, at home, at work, and at school. Here are some things you can do:

• Recycle your junk mail and other paper products. More paper products are thrown away than any other item. Forms to stop junk mail from being sent to you are available at the Utilities Conservation Office (see address below).

• Be sure to separate liquids from your garbage, and pour them down the drain. Dry garbage is much lighter than wet garbage, and the State is measuring our success by how much less we throw away, by weight. Remember, hazardous waste should never be placed in your garbage or your sewer. Take them to the Hazardous Waste Facility-located at the local landfill. See “Hazardous Waste Recycling” in the recycling corner section.

• Ask for a “bag” when you eat out, and be sure to date and use up your leftovers from the refrigerator. Food waste makes up over 22% of our commercial waste, and about 10% of our residential waste, so this is an area where you can make a big difference while enjoying a good meal! If you must throw food away, try using your garbage disposal or composting your vegetables.

• Recycle your grass trimmings, leaves, and kitchen vegetable scraps. The best and easiest solutions are found under “Leaves and Lawns”.

• Look on the base of all plastic containers. If you see a triangle with a number in it, you should be able to recycle it if it is cleaned off and the lid is removed.

• Double check your trash as you empty it. This is the time to find out which items are slipping by your recycling efforts.

• Look for products that are made from recycled material. “Consumer content” means that the recycled product was actually made from recycled materials. This is important, because recycling only works if someone is using recycled products.

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Thanks for your help! Questions? Call the Utilities Conservation Office at 781-7213, or stop by and pick up some helpful literature. We’re located at 879 Morro Street.