Berkeley, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

36, the Recycled Materials Collection Program, establishes the City's own curbside recycling system and protects it from unauthorized scavenging. 010 finds that a municipal program for collecting, disposing of, and recycling metals, glass and paper placed at curbside serves the public interest and general welfare. 020 defines recycled materials broadly as metals, glass, paper or similar materials placed at curbside for collection and recycling under the program. 060 lets the City Manager separately authorize nonprofit, religious or charitable organizations to collect curbside recyclables under specified terms.

070, is the operative rule for residents and haulers: it is unlawful for any person not otherwise excepted by the chapter, or authorized in writing by the City Manager, to collect recycled materials from the curbside in Berkeley. This anti-scavenging rule exists because recyclable metals, glass and paper carry resale value that funds the City's own collection costs, so unauthorized pickers who cherry-pick valuable recyclables before the City's trucks arrive undercut the program's finances. 35 that requires generators to sort their waste into the correct streams in the first place.