Even though Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery has the finest sorting technology, what you put in the blue cart matters! Some items can create a lot of grief in the sorting process.

These should stay OUT of the blue recycling cart:

• Anything with food residue like takeout containers, pizza boxes or jars. Any kind of goop can contaminate other items in a cart. Uncoated food-soiled paper can go in the green organics cart!
• Items like rope, hoses or wires can wrap around the machinery during the sorting process. Tangles can create safety hazards for people working, and even cause the machinery to shut down.
• Polystyrene foam, otherwise known as styrofoam, goes in the black landfill cart. Look for—and request— eco-friendly packaging.

Here's what CAN be recycled:

• Empty, clean and dry plastic, glass and metal bottles, jars, aluminum and steel cans, clean foil, detergent and soap containers (keep the lids on!).
• Clean and loose paper including cardboard, paper bags, newspapers, paper and envelopes.

It's important to make sure your items are empty, clean and dry when they go into the blue cart. It helps the machine capture all those good recyclables! For more recycling information, please go to RecycleSmart.org/houses/blue-cart

Congratulations to our 2022 Scholarship winners! This year, RecycleSmart awarded scholarships to three outstanding students for leading recycling and composting initiatives at their schools. These students continue working towards sustainability and bringing positive change to their communities.

Sofia Gonzalez

Sophia was the Environmental Club leader at Acalanes High School and a RecycleSmart school intern! She educated fellow students about the benefits of sorting their waste and reducing what goes to the landfill by organizing a successful clothing drive. This fall, she will study Biology at UC Davis.

Aya Banaja

Aya was also a RecyleSmart school intern and Green Team member, and helped launch a campus-wide recycling and composting program at Las Lomas High. When she moved and attended Miramonte High, she collaborated with team members to host a virtual Earth Day Summit and created a Sorting 101 video to educate the broader Central Contra Costa community. She plans to attend Saint Mary’s College to study psychology this fall.

Devon Bradley

Devon is the founder and leader of the Miramonte Environmental Solutions Club and Project HEART. Devon focused on improving sorting and reducing waste at his school, which resulted in a 75% diversion rate for Miramonte High School! In August 2021, he helped influence the Orinda City Council to ban polystyrene. Devon will continue his journey this fall studying climate science at UCLA.

If you or someone you know is a stellar recycling scholar, visit RecycleSmart.org/schools to learn about scholarships for Spring 2023.

My local coffee shop is encouraging customers to bring their own mugs by offering a 10 cent discount.

As a big coffee lover, I was so excited to hear I could get my favorite drink for less! I don't like having to use disposable cups when I pick up coffee on the go. I've been bringing my favorite mug to this coffee shop and I've noticed others are starting to do the same.

My local coffee shop is encouraging customers to bring their own mugs by offering a 10 cent discount. As a big coffee lover, I was so excited to hear I could get my favorite drink for less! I don't like having to use disposable cups when I pick up coffee on the go. I've been bringing my favorite mug to this coffee shop and I've noticed others are starting to do the same.

I've also heard that some restaurants allow customers to bring their own to-go containers. That's definitely a step up from coffee mugs and a great way to reduce waste.

So, fellow coffee lovers: let's keep our waste low with our cup of Joe!

Editor's note: CA State Law AB 619 allows consumers to bring their own clean, reusable food and beverage containers for takeout orders and leftovers (as long as they follow all sanitary guidelines). More at RecycleSmart.org/AB1276