Shrink Your Wasteline: Blue Recycling Bins To Double In Size

Shrink Your Wasteline: Blue Recycling Bins To Double In SizeRecology's new bins will roll out over the next two years. | Photos: Fineman PR
Carrie Sisto
Published on October 06, 2017

San Francisco yesterday unveiled its newest efforts to encourage residents to recycle more and throw away less as part of its zero waste by 2020 goal.

“The people of San Francisco are committed to zero waste, and these recycling changes represent another giant step forward,” Board of Supervisors President London Breed said at a press event yesterday.

District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang, SF Department of Environment director Debbie Raphael, and Board President London Breed.

To make way for more recycling, the city is updating the sizes of its three bins, currently each 32 gallons.

The green composting bin will stay its current size, but the blue recycling bin will increase to 64 gallons, and the black waste bin will shrink to 16 gallons. The new bins, along with informational signage, have been rolled out in the Sunset and will be introduced throughout the city over the next two years.

The Department of Environment and Recology also announced several new items will now be considered recyclable:

  • Empty paper cups (such as coffee cups, including sleeves and lids)
  • Empty paper cartons (such as milk cartons, juice boxes, ice cream containers)
  • Plastic bags and bubble or shrink wrap (wrap must be contained in a plastic bag)

San Francisco’s recycling program was launched in 2000, and the city has been a trendsetter in waste reduction—it was the first in the nation to offer curbside composting and ban plastic bags.

Larger blue bins and Recology’s acceptance of more recyclables will help residents and businesses divert even more waste from landfills.

New materials considered recyclable

“Now it is even easier to reduce waste and protect the planet,” said District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang. “I’m excited that Sunset residents get to be the first to experience the program changes.”

More details about the new bins and program changes are available at www.SFRecycles.org, and information about San Francisco’s zero waste policies can be found at www.sfenvironment.org/zerowaste.