Turn your recycling into money! Check your bottles and cans for CRV (California Refund Value) and bring them to a CRV Redemption Center in Davis for a refund:

• Recology Davis Recycling Center, 2727 2nd Street, 530-756-4646. Redemption Center Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.*
• Camacho Recycling, 1935 Anderson Road, 916-208-8882. Redemption Center Hours: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• CVS at 1471 W Covell Blvd. has a reverse vending machine for the redemption of small numbers of CRV containers.

* During Recology Davis' CRV buyback hours, they also accept mattresses, box springs and household batteries for free recycling as well as used sharps for safe disposal. 

For more information and for other state-certified CRV Redemption Centers, visit BottlesAndCans.com.

Please note: removing recyclables from a Recology Davis cart is illegal.

• Carboard boxes must be completely emptied of all packing material and be flattened before recycling.
• Waxed cardboard or greasy pizza boxes are not recyclable but can go in the organics cart.
• Small pieces of flattened cardboard (less than two cubic feet in size) can be placed in the recycling cart with paper.
• Medium to large cardboard boxes: Flatten the empty cardboard boxes and and place them on the ground next to the recycling cart for collection.
• Businesses and apartment communities: Some businesses and apartments have a cardboard recycling bin for flattened cardboard. For those that do not, place flattened cardboard on the ground next to the recycling carts (there should be a space designated for cardboard recycling).

Recology Davis offers free 24-hour drop-off of the following recyclables at their 2727 2nd Street Recycling Center:

• Cartons (milk, juice, soup, broth and other gable top (refrigerated) and aseptic (shelf-stable) cartons and ice cream cartons)
• Cardboard
• Plastics #1-#7
• Aluminum cans
• Tin foil
• Paper
• Glass bottles
• Steel cans
• Scrap metal
• Used motor oil and oil filters

During Recology Davis' CRV Redemption Center hours (Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), they also accept mattresses and box springs for free recycling as well as used sharps for safe disposal. 

The Yolo County Central Landfill also offers free drop-off recycling during their regular business hours.

Cartons

Please rinse cartons and save them to drop off for recycling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Recology Recycling Center at 2727 2nd Street. If the carton has a cap, you can leave the cap on. Cartons are accepted crushed and uncrushed. Please note: If you are unable to save your cartons and drop them off for recycling, cartons can technically be placed in either the organics or the trash cart. Since we know that the cartons are not breaking down in the composting facility, placing them in the trash is best for now. We will not be officially listing cartons as needing to be placed in the trash at this point since we are hoping to get a more sustainable recycling program going for them eventually. Part of this is dependent on some Statewide decisions to determine what is considered recyclable or compostable in California that will be coming out in the next year. We are also very aware that all of the current Recology organics carts are hot stamped with a picture of a carton to indicate that cartons are accepted for composting. We want to carefully consider any potential changes to State requirements and see the results of a pilot drop-off program before we make any sweeping changes to our local programs. The State’s approach to recycling continues to evolve and we are carefully monitoring it to ensure that we are in full compliance and are ready to make any future changes needed. More information is available on Recology Davis' website.

Scrap metal

Scrap metal can be dropped off at the Recology Davis recycling center, 2727 Second St., 24 hours a day. The Yolo County Central Landfill also accepts scrap metal for free recycling during their regular business hours.

While supplies last, the City has kitchen food scrap pails available for anyone who lives in Davis (limit of one pail per address).

Single-family customers that would like to receive a pail can contact Recology Davis at 530-756-4646 or the City's Public Works Utilities and Operations Department at 530-757-5686 to schedule a time to pick-up a pail.

If you live in an apartment and did not receive a kitchen pail, please contact your manager--they may have extra pails. If they do not have a pail, contact Recology Davis at 530-756-4646 or the City's Public Works Utilities and Operations Department at 530-757-5686 to schedule a pick-up time.

TIP: To make collection easier, line your pail with newspaper, junk mail or a compostable bag (a 3-gallon size bag fits well). The vented lid helps prevent odors while you are collecting food scraps, but after emptying, it's a good idea to wash out your pail (the kitchen pails are dishwasher safe). Spray with vinegar or sprinkle with baking soda to control odors when necessary.

Minimizing Odors

• Collect food scraps in a bin with a compostable liner before placing them in the organics cart.
  • Compostable bags can be purchased at many stores in Davis
  • Paper grocery bags can be used as liners
• Use an empty paperboard box (like a cereal box) to collect food scraps before placing them in your organics cart.
• Fold a paper liner for your food scrap pail from newspaper or junk mail.
  • PDF instructions to fold a newspaper liner
  • Video on folding a newspaper liner:
    

•  If you have a kitchen food scrap pail, rinse it with lemon juice, vinegar or baking soda to reduce odors and keep fruit flies away. Keep the lid closed--the ventilated lid keeps flies out while allowing air in to minimize odors. 
• Rinse your organics cart with a garden hose from time to time, especially if you don’t bag or box up your food scraps. Pour the dirty water onto landscaping. Do NOT pour dirty water onto the driveway, sidewalk, or street where it can enter the stormdrain and pollute local waterways.
• To reduce odors, keep meat or fish scraps in the freezer until collection day.
• Keep the lid to your food scrap pail and organics cart closed.

Collecting Food Scraps

• Re-label your kitchen garbage can for your organic wastes. Most of what you are currently throwing in there is probably compostable.
• Place cardboard, food soiled paper, newspaper or yard waste at the bottom of the organics carts each week before adding food scraps to prevent the food scraps from sticking to the bottom of the cart.
• Sprinkle baking soda and/or vinegar in your organics cart occasionally to limit odor.

The City actively works to provide information and assistance to customers to help them achieve and maintain compliance with solid waste regulations, including the requirements of SB 1383: The Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Act (SLCP). Adapting to new rules and regulations can take time, and the City (by policy) approaches each violation or potential violation with an education-first approach when possible. However, starting in January 2024, State law requires the City to distribute Notices of Violation for any violation of the statewide SLCP rules. To ensure that everyone can benefit from information on compliance, especially those who may not have a full understanding of the law, SLCP requires jurisdictions to provide customers with a method to provide an anonymous complaint about a potential violation of the SLCP regulations. The My Davis service request system can be used to submit an anonymous concern or complaint about a potential violation of the SLCP regulations. Customers can also submit complaints and concerns about potential violations to PWWeb@CityofDavis.org, 530-757-5686, or by mail to City of Davis Public Works Utilities and Operations, Attn: Solid Waste Program, 1717 5th Street, Davis CA 95616.