Recycling and Donation Directory

Davis prides itself on its recycling program, but sometimes things end up in the garbage that could be better utilized in the community. Here's a directory, organized by item, designed to give people alternatives to just tossing stuff in the garbage. If you are looking for a way to dispose of a particular item that is not on the list, write it in the comments and someone will look for a solution.

In general, usable goods can often be given away on The Freecycle Network or the Sacramento area Craigslist. You can list a free classified ad in the Davis Enterprise for any items you wish to give away. Many household items are accepted at the SPCA Thrift Store, as well as via donation trucks from different organizations that tend to come around relatively frequently to make donations. Neighbors and friends are also good sources to "donate" to. Additionally, at the end of the UCD school year, the university holds a Resource Recovery Drive in order to divert usable goods from landfills. The City of Davis also has an online Recyclopedia with over 150 items and ways to reuse and recycle them locally.

Also note that donations made to government-authenticated, non-profit organizations are tax deductible, as long as you request a receipt with a list of items donated and their approximate value.

The Yolo County Central Landfill holds free household hazardous waste drop off days twice a month. Click here for schedule of drop-off days.

A

• Aerosol cans, empty — Recycle in curbside containers

• Aerosol cans, not empty — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Air conditioners — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Ammunition — Call the Yolo Explosive Bomb Investigative Unit at 661-5900 for details on proper disposal
  

• Animal feed, horse — Donate at the UCD Equestrian Center
  

• Animal feed, pet — Donate to Yolo County SPCA or Yolo County Animal Shelter
  

• Antifreeze — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Automotive fluids — Can be taken to Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days, oil and filters can be droppped off any day.

B

• Baby items — Can be consigned at Just KIDding. Donate to the Yolo Crisis Nursery, Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center

• Bags, plastic — See 'Plastic Bags'.
  

• Batteries, household — Accepted for free daily at Yolo County Central Landfill, blue campus multi-bins (in the ARC, MU, and UCD libraries), Davis Public Library, CVS Pharmacy (both locations), Rite Aid (both locations), ACE Hardware, Davis Senior Center, Hibbert Lumber. Sort the different types of batteries (lithium, alkaline and rechargeable) into different containers before disposal.
  

• Batteries, automobile — Accepted for free daily at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Bicycle parts, usable — Donate to the Bike Church
  

• Bicycle parts, worn
  

• Inner tubes — Use un-punctured parts to patch another punctured inner tube
  

• Tires — Recycle at Ken's Bike and Ski
  

• Bicycles — Donate to the Bike Church
  

• Books — Donate at Davis Public Library. Books should not go in recycling bins, since the bindings cannot be recycled. If you rip out the pages or remove the bindings, then the paper can be recycled.
  

• Buckets, plastic — Recycle at Davis Waste Removal with the other "Rigid plastics" (but not in the curbside bins!), or at Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Brake fluid — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Bubble wrap — See 'Packing Materials'
  

• Building materials — See 'Construction Materials'
  

C

• Cardboard, corrugated — Small pieces can be flattened and placed in the curbside container, large pieces should be flattened and placed next to the recycling cart. Davis Waste Removal and Yolo County Central Landfill accept cardboard for free recycling.

• Cardboard, packaging — Be careful with this one when recycling. Cardboard with a plastic or wax coating (such as that used in frozen food packages or milk cartons) cannot be recycled with mixed paper, and including these in with the mixed paper can result in ruining entire batches of paper pulp. However, if the product that came in the package was not designed to withstand a wet environment, its cardboard packaging can probably be recycled with other mixed paper. Test the cardboard by scraping your fingernail along it—if you get a waxy buildup under your nail, it's not recyclable. Also try the tear-test: Tear the cardboard. If the cardboard will not tear, or if you can tear it and you can see a layer of plastic on top of or inside of the cardboard, it's not recyclable.
  

• Cassette tapes, audio — Donate at the Davis Public Library.
  

• Cassette tapes, video — Donate at the Davis Public Library.
  

• CDs — See 'Compact Discs'
  

• Cellular phones — Any cell phone store should have a recycling unit. Blue campus multi-bins in the ARC, MU, and UCD libraries. Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill. Regal has a Cellphones for Soldiers collection bin.
  

• Clothing — SPCA Thrift Store will accept clothing in any condition. Can also donate to Help and Education Leading to Prevention program, STEAC. All Things Right and Relevant consigns clothes that are in-season and in good condition. 'Also see 'Clothing, childrens'.
  

• Clothing, children's — Consign at Just KIDding. Donate at Progress Ranch. Also see 'Clothing'.
  

• Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) — Recycling facilities at IKEA, Yolo County Central Landfill for free at hazardous waste drop off days, or for a slight fee on other days.

• Compact Discs — Some in good condition may be resold to Armadillo Music or Dimple Records. KDVS might like your used CDs for their music collection. Donate at the Davis Public Library. Recycle in blue campus multi-bins in the ARC, MU, and UCD libraries. Recycle at Davis Waste Removal in the rigid plastics bin.
  

• Computers — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill, manufacturers also have e-cycling programs
  

• Construction materials — Donate to Habitat for Humanity. Can also give away on Davis Builders Outpost. Yolo County Central Landfill accepts construction and demolition debris for recycling for a fee
  

• Cooking oil, used — Can be converted into Biodiesel. Accepted for free at Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days.
  

• CPUs — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill for free recycling everyday.
  

D

• Dishwashers — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

• Disinfectants — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Drain cleaner — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• DVDs — Those in good condition may be resold at Armadillo Music. Donate to the Davis Public Library. Those scratched beyond repair can be recycled at blue campus multi-bins in the ARC, MU, and UCD libraries. Recycle at Davis Waste Removal in the rigid plastics bin.
  

• DVD players — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill
  

E

• Electronics, household — Most accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill

• Electronics, small — contact the manufacturer about e-cycling programs
  

• Explosives — Call the Yolo Explosive Bomb Investigative Unit (530-661-5900)
  

• Eyeglasses —
  

F

• Fax machines — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill

• Fertilizer — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Fire Extinguishers — If still has extinguishing fluid and is fully operational, consider keeping in the kitchen or near areas that have exposure to open flames. Can dispose of at Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days.
  

• First-aid supplies — Donate at Davis Community Clinic
  

• Flares — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Flea repellent powder — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Flower pots, plastic — Recycle at Davis Waste Removal with the other "Rigid plastics" (but not in the curbside bins!)
  

• Food, any — Donate to Food Not Bombs, Help and Education Leading to Prevention program, Davis Community Meals, Food Bank of Yolo County
  

• Food, non-perishable — Donate to STEAC, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center. Also see Food, any.
  

• Food scraps — Consider starting a compost bin or vermicomposting bin.
  

• Freezers — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Freon (from air conditioners) — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Furnaces — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Furniture — Donate to Davis Community Meals
  

• Furniture polish — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

G

• Glue, solvent-based — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days

• Grass clippings — Put in a pile on the street (not on the curb or sidewalk!) for curbside collection on a weekly basis. Alternately, just leave the clippings on your lawn, since grass clippings provide a number of benefits to you growing grass.

H

• Hair, human — Local beauty salons and barber shops often give discounts for donations to Locks of Love.

• Hazardous waste — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Heaters — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Herbicides — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Horses — Oddly enough, all the horses at the UCD Equestrian Center were donated.
  

• Household goods — Donate to Davis Community Meals, Progress Ranch. Also look at listings for specific household goods.

I

• Infectious waste — Call the Yolo County Environmental Health Department (530-666-8646).

• iPods — Are accepted at the Apple Store (nearest branch is at Arden Fair Mall and are rewarded with a 10% discount on your next iPod.) Also see 'MP3 Players'. Also accepted for free recycling at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

J

K

• Kerosene — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days

• Keyboards, computer — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill
  

• Kitchen appliances, large —Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill

L

• Laser printer toner cartridges — blue campus multi-bins in the ARC, MU, and UCD libraries. Most Davis elementary schools collect them as a fundraiser.

• Laundry baskets — Broken ones can be recycled at Davis Waste Removal with the other "Rigid plastics" (but not in the curbside bins!)
  

• Lighter fluid — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

M

• Magazines — Davis Public Library, to be sold in the book/magazine nook. Can also be recycled with mixed paper, either curbside or at Davis Waste Removal

• Medical equipment, usable — Donate at Davis Community Clinic
  

• Medical Waste —
  

• Medicine, over-the-counter — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Medicine, prescription (pharmaceuticals) —Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days. Controlled substances such as Codine, Vicodin and Morphine are not accepted at these event. Only law enforcement can legally accept these items.
  

• Mercury-containing objects — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Metal polish — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Microwave ovens — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Mobile phones — See 'Cellular Phones'
  

• Moth balls — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Motor oil (and filters) — Recycle at oil at Davis Waste Removal, Kragen Auto Parts, Speedee Oil Change & Tune Up, ["Davisville Express Lube'], Yolo County Central Landfill. Davis Waste Removal, Kragen Auto Parts, ["Davisville Express Lube'], Yolo County Central Landfill also accept used oil filters. Jiffy Lube no longer accepts used motor oil as of September 2009.
  

• MP3 players — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill. Also see 'iPods'.

N

• Nail polish — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days

• Nail polish remover — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Needles, hypodermic —As of September 1, 2008 these are illegal to throw away in the trash. All home-generated used "sharps" must be placed in a sharps container and disposed of at a hazardous waste facility. Yolo County residents can bring their sharps to Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days. For larger quantities, call the Yolo County Environmental Health Department (530-666-8646).

O

• Office equipment — Donate to Davis Community Clinic

• Oven cleaner — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days. Avoid using oven cleaners by using the "self-clean" function on the oven, if it has one.
  

• Ovens — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

P

• Packing materials (peanuts, bubble wrap, etc.) — Accepted at The UPS Store, Parcel Dispatch PDQ, Postmark's, Pak Mail.

• Paint, oil or latex — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days.
  

• Paint cans, empty — Recycle curbside
  

• Paint thinner or stripper — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days for free disposal. The Yolo County Central Landfill accepts latex paint on a daily basis for a fee.
  

• Personal care items — See 'Toiletries'
  

• Pesticide container (empty) — Recycle plastics #1 and #2 in curbside recycling bin.
  

• Pesticides — Accepted at Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Photographic developer — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Photographic fixer — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Pizza boxes, clean — Recycle curbside with mixed paper
  

• Pizza boxes, dirty (stuck-on food) — Cannot be recycled.
  

• Plastic bags — Reuse by using as garbage bin liners or for groceries. You could also try your hand at some functional plastic bag crafts. Recycle at IKEA, Safeway, SaveMart, Nugget Market. State Law AB 2449 required most large grocery stores to take back plastic bags for recycling.
  

• Plastic containers — #1 and #2 plastics (see the little triangle imprint on the bottom of the container) can be recycled curbside. #3, #5, #6 and #7, otherwise known as "Rigid Plastics", can be recycled at the Davis Waste Removal.
  

• Plastic toys — Usable toys can be donated to the SPCA Thrift Store. For toys that have been recalled by the manufacturer, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for reimbursement or disposal instructions. Broken or unusable ones can be recycled at Davis Waste Removal with the other "Rigid plastics" (but not in the curbside bins!) Any toy with electronic components should be brought to the Yolo County Central Landfill and recycled with electronics (this is free).
  

• Pool chemicals — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Propane — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Pressure-treated wood — Pressure-treated wood is generally NOT accepted for disposal at the Yolo County Central Landfill for disposal. Bring to the Hay Road Landfill for proper disposal. Regular disposal fees are applicable.
  

• Printer cartridges, ink — Consider refilling your cartridges either with a do-it-yourself kit or a refilling service. Recycle in blue campus multi-bins (in the ARC, MU, and UCD libraries), or at any Davis Joint Unified school.
  

• Printer cartridges, laser — Recycled in blue campus multi-bins (in the ARC, MU, and UCD libraries). Most Davis elementary schools collect them as a fundraiser.
  

• Printers — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill. Remember to recycle the ink jet or laser cartridges.

Q

R

• Radioactive materials — Call the Yolo Explosive Bomb Investigative Unit (530-661-5900)

• Refrigerators — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Rubber bands — Donate at The Davis Enterprise
  

• Rust remover — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days

S

• Scrap metal — Yolo County Central Landfill

• Shoe polish — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Shoes, unwearable — Sneakers / athletic shoes can be taken to the Nike Factory Outlet in Vacaville to be recycled and made into athletic surfaces for playgrounds.
  

• Shoes, wearable — See 'Clothing'
  

• Smoke alarms — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Sports equipment — Donate to Sports2Kids.
  

• Spot remover — Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
  

• Stereos — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill
  

• Styrofoam packing peanuts — See 'Packing Materials'
  

• Syringes — Containerized syringes are accepted for free at Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days. For non-containerized syringes, see Infectious waste.

T

• Tack (equestrian) — Donate at the UCD Equestrian Center

• Televisions — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill
  

• Tires, automotive — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Toasters — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill
  

• Toiletries — Donate to Food Not Bombs, Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center, H Street Shelter
  

• Tools, hand held — Donate to the Bike Church
  

• Toys — Donate at the Woodland Toy Library. Toys for babies and toddlers are accepted at the Yolo Crisis Nursery.
  

• Trash compacters — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.
  

• Typewriters — Most accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill

U

V

• Vacuum cleaners — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill

• VCRs — Accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill

W

• Washers (large appliances) — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

• Water heaters — Accepted for a fee at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

X

Y

• Yard waste — see the Green Waste page

Z

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