Regional Compliance Hub: San Francisco, CA — Hazardous Waste, Batteries & Electronics

This regional resource covers the Recology San Francisco Transfer Station and the separately operated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Facility. San Francisco’s Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance requires source separation of recyclables, compostables, and trash. Household hazardous waste, batteries, and electronics require separate handling and must not be placed loose inside standard apartment recycling, compost, or trash containers. [1][3][10]

The transfer station and HHW facility share the 501 Tunnel Avenue location, but they have different operating hours, eligibility requirements, limits, and fee schedules. [2][4]

Recology SF Transfer Station & HHW Facility (Separate Programs and Hours)

Separate Programs at One Location: San Francisco residents may use the HHW facility for accepted household chemicals and the transfer station’s public disposal area for accepted electronics, recyclable materials, bulky items, and other materials under Recology’s current rules. Confirm current acceptance requirements, quantities, preparation instructions, and fees before visiting. [2][4]

  • Facility: Recology SF Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility[2][4]
  • Address: 501 Tunnel Ave., San Francisco, CA 94134[2][4]
  • Transfer Station Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM. Holiday closures apply.[2]
  • HHW Facility Hours: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday — 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. The HHW facility is closed Sunday–Wednesday and on listed holidays.[2][4]
  • HHW Residency Requirement: Residents must show proof of San Francisco residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill, when using the HHW program.[2][4]
  • HHW Quantity and Container Limits: The household program generally limits each visit to 15 gallons or 125 pounds. Drums, most compressed-gas cylinders, and containers larger than five gallons are not accepted under the standard residential program; limited exceptions may apply to small or BBQ-sized propane cylinders.[4]
  • Accepted HHW (Examples): paint, pesticides, solvents, cleaning products, and other accepted household hazardous materials, subject to program rules and limits.[4][5]
  • Accepted Electronics (Examples): Recology currently lists TVs, computer monitors, laptop computers, and certain small electronic devices for drop-off. Fees depend on the item, its origin, commercial status, and whether it is separated from other refuse.[2]

Mandate Type & Applicability Threshold

Mandate Type: Mandatory source separation, adequate collection service, properly identified containers, and tenant education requirements.

Applicability Threshold: San Francisco’s source-separation requirement applies to all persons in San Francisco. The owner and manager duties for multifamily properties are not limited to buildings with six or more units. The separate six-unit threshold applies to certain Recology programs, including complimentary apartment battery buckets and the multifamily bulky-item program structure. [3][8][10]

  • Adequate Service: Owners or managers of multifamily properties must provide adequate recycling, composting, and trash collection service for property users.[1][10]
  • Container Capacity: Properties must provide an appropriate number and size of containers based on the reasonably anticipated volume of recyclables, compostables, and trash.[10]
  • Container Identification: Containers must have appropriate signage and use the required colors: blue for recycling, green for compost, and black for trash.[10]
  • Convenient Placement: Recycling, composting, and trash containers must be placed as close together as possible to provide equally convenient access.[10]
  • New-Tenant Education: Owners or managers must provide source-separation information or training before, or within 14 days after, a new tenant occupies the property.[10]
  • Annual Education: Existing tenants, employees, and contractors must be re-educated about source separation at least once each year.[1][10]

Batteries: Never Put Loose Batteries in Blue, Green, or Black Bins

Batteries: Do not place loose batteries inside the blue recycling, green compost, or black trash container. Batteries require special handling because damaged or improperly managed batteries can cause fires. Approved options include participating retail locations, the Tunnel Avenue facility, an apartment battery bucket, or Recology’s specially prepared curbside battery option for ordinary household batteries. [5][6][8]

  • Drop-off (Retail): Residents may use participating Walgreens locations, hardware stores, and other approved collection locations. Confirm participation before visiting.[5][6]
  • Apartment Option (Orange Buckets): Apartment complexes with six units or more are eligible for a complimentary Recology battery bucket. Property management establishes the shared collection location and requests service from Recology.[5][8]
  • Curbside Household-Battery Option: Recology instructs customers using this option to place ordinary household batteries inside a tightly sealed plastic bag and place the bag on top of the closed black landfill cart—not inside the cart.[5]
  • Safety Tip: Tape lithium-battery terminals and the sides of disk or button batteries before collection or transport to reduce the risk of accidental fires.[5]

Bulky Items (Self-Haul): Mattresses & Furniture

Bulky Items (Self-Haul): Residents may self-haul accepted furniture, mattresses, and other bulky materials to the Recology SF Transfer Station under current facility rules. A minimum disposal fee and weight-based charges generally apply to mixed refuse and furniture loads. [2]

Mattress Exception: Recology currently accepts up to four qualifying source-separated mattresses or box springs per day at no charge when the items meet its recyclability criteria. Mattresses must generally be intact, reasonably dry, and free of mold, insects, severe damage, and significant staining. Fees apply after the current no-charge allowance or when an item does not qualify. [2]

All transported loads must be properly covered, tarped, and secured. Recology may assess an additional fee for an uncovered load. [2]

Bulky Item Recycling (BIR) — No-Charge Collection Eligibility

The Program: Residential customers in buildings with five units or fewer receive two curbside bulky-item collections per year at no additional charge. Each unit in a multifamily building with six units or more is eligible for one no-charge curbside collection under current program rules. [7][8]

The Process: Schedule the collection with Recology before placing furniture, appliances, mattresses, or other accepted items at the curb. Residents should follow their building’s procedures and coordinate the approved staging location with property management when necessary. Do not abandon furniture or obstruct the sidewalk. [7][8]

Recology currently allows up to 10 accepted items per collection appointment. Place items in the location specified by Recology and attach the required Recology or BIR identification sign according to the appointment instructions. Hazardous waste, construction and demolition debris, auto parts, and tires are not accepted through the standard bulky-item program. [7][8]

The “Fantastic Three” (Mandatory Composting): Green / Blue / Black

The Law: San Francisco’s Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance requires all persons to separate refuse into the City’s recycling, composting, and trash streams. Multifamily owners and managers must provide adequate service, appropriately identified containers, convenient access, and recurring education. [1][3][10]

  • Green Bin (Compost): Place food scraps, food-soiled paper, and accepted plant material in the green compost container.[9]
  • Warning: Food scraps and food-soiled paper must not be placed in the black trash container when they are accepted through the City’s composting program.[1][3][9]
  • Blue Bin (Recycling) — Preparation: Recycling must generally be loose, clean, and dry. Plastic bag liners must not be placed in the blue Recology collection container.[1][9]
  • Blue Bin (Recycling) — Glass: Glass bottles and jars are accepted in the blue recycling container. Other glass products, including mirrors, windows, ceramics, and drinking glasses, require different handling.[9]
  • Blue Bin (Recycling) — Cartons: Empty milk cartons, juice cartons, soup cartons, and juice boxes belong in the blue recycling container—not the green compost container.[9]
  • Black Bin (Trash): Use the black trash container only for materials that cannot be recycled, composted, reused, donated, or managed through a separate special-waste program.[9]

Important: Facility hours, holiday closures, fees, accepted materials, quantity limits, and preparation requirements can change. Confirm current information with San Francisco Environment and Recology before transporting materials or relying on a particular service. This resource provides general compliance information and is not legal advice.

EEAT Sources: [1] SF Environment: Mandatory Recycling & Composting Ordinance (compliance guidance)  |  [2] Recology SF: Transfer Station & HHW Facility (address, separate hours, fees, electronics and mattress rules)  |  [3] San Francisco Environment Code § 1903: Source Separation of Refuse Required  |  [4] SF Environment: Household Hazardous Waste drop-off (hours, residency, quantity and container limits)  |  [5] Recology SF: Hazardous Waste and Battery Guidance (retail, curbside preparation, apartment buckets and safety)  |  [6] SF Environment: Household Batteries (approved drop-off locations and special handling)  |  [7] Recology SF: Bulky Items (eligibility, appointments, item limits and placement requirements)  |  [8] Recology SF: Apartment Resources (six-unit battery-bucket threshold and multifamily BIR guidance)  |  [9] Recology SF: What Goes Where (green, blue and black sorting requirements)  |  [10] San Francisco Environment Code § 1904: Multifamily and Commercial Property Owner/Manager Requirements

 
National Doorstep - The Valet Trash Service Experts

San Francisco property owners and community managers: simplify recycling and organics operations while supporting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash and recycling service is designed to support alignment with the City and County of San Francisco’s Mandatory Recycling and Composting requirements and applicable California mandates, including AB 341 and SB 1383. A properly implemented supplemental program may help reduce contamination, improve resident convenience, and support efficient property operations.

In San Francisco, all persons must separate recyclables, compostables, and trash under San Francisco Environment Code Chapter 19, established through Ordinance No. 100-09. Owners and managers of multifamily properties must provide adequate collection service, appropriately identified containers, convenient access, and required resident, employee, and contractor education. Qualifying Large Refuse Generators must also comply with San Francisco’s separate Refuse Separation Ordinance requirements.

San Francisco’s current zero-waste strategy includes goals to reduce municipal solid-waste generation by 15% and reduce disposal to landfill or incineration by 50% by 2030. Multifamily source separation, resident education, and contamination reduction remain important components of the City’s waste-reduction strategy.

  • Potential NOI and Property Benefits: Convenient sustainability amenities may support resident retention, cleanliness, operational efficiency, and property appeal.
  • Resident Convenience and Cleanliness: Doorstep recycling and organics collection may help reduce overflow and contamination when properly designed, consistently managed, and correctly used by residents.
  • Compliance Support: Designed to support alignment with City and County requirements and applicable CalRecycle mandates, including AB 341 and SB 1383.
  • Code-Informed Program Support: Signage, resident education materials, collection procedures, and organized documentation can support property compliance efforts but do not independently guarantee legal compliance.

At a Glance: City and County of San Francisco vs State of California (applies in SF)

City and County of San Francisco

  • Mandate Type: Mandatory source separation, collection service, compliant containers, and education under Environment Code Chapter 19 and Ordinance No. 100-09. High-volume accounts may also be subject to Large Refuse Generator requirements.
  • Applicability Threshold: All persons in San Francisco must properly separate recyclables, compostables, and trash. Owners or managers of multifamily and commercial properties must provide adequate service, compliant containers, convenient access, and required education. Large Refuse Generator requirements apply to accounts with a roll-off compactor or at least 40 cubic yards per week of total uncompacted refuse service.
  • Owner/Manager Duties (Sec. 1904):
    • Provide an appropriate number and size of containers for recycling, composting, and trash.
    • Use appropriately identified blue, green, and black containers and place the three streams as close together as possible for equal convenience.
    • Resident education: provide source-separation information before occupancy or within 14 days after a new resident occupies the property.
    • Re-educate residents, employees, and contractors about source separation at least annually.
    • Maintain adequate collection capacity and service levels for the reasonably anticipated volume of each material stream.
  • Property Owner Subscription Duty (Sec. 1907): The property owner must subscribe to and pay for adequate authorized collection service for recyclables, compostables, and trash. A doorstep or valet collection program is supplemental and does not replace required authorized collection service.
  • Key SF Links: Environment Code Ch. 19 · Sec. 1903 Source Separation · Sec. 1904 Owner/Manager Requirements · Sec. 1907 Subscription Requirements · Ordinance 100-09 (PDF) · Large Refuse Generator Requirements

State of California (applies in San Francisco)

  • AB 341 – Mandatory Commercial Recycling: applies to businesses generating at least 4 cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week and to multifamily residential properties with 5 or more units. Covered properties must arrange recycling service or use another authorized compliance method, such as qualifying self-haul or recyclable-material pickup.
  • SB 1383 – Organics: requires participation in applicable local organics collection programs. Multifamily complexes with 5 or more units have specific owner or manager duties involving adequate organics containers, compliant colors or labels, annual education, and information for new tenants within 14 days. San Francisco’s local Chapter 19 requirements may apply more broadly.
  • Key State Links: CalRecycle: AB 341 Overview · CalRecycle: SB 1383 Collection Requirements · CalRecycle: SB 1383 Resources

Enforcement and Penalties Snapshot

San Francisco may enforce its recycling and composting requirements through inspections, corrective notices, administrative citations, penalties, and other remedies authorized by law. Enforcement procedures and penalty amounts depend on the specific violation, property circumstances, applicable code section, and corrective response.

  • Inspections and Corrective Action: SF Environment may inspect properties and require corrective action when recycling, composting, trash, container, service, or education requirements are not being met.
  • Small-Generator Limitation: Under Environment Code §1908, an initial administrative fine for premises generating less than one cubic yard of refuse per week may not exceed $100.
  • Other Administrative Penalties: Penalties for other violations may be higher and are determined under the applicable enforcement provisions. The maximum amount should not be represented as automatic for every residential or multifamily violation.
  • Large Refuse Generator Noncompliance: Qualifying Large Refuse Generators are subject to a separate audit, notice, corrective-action, progress-reporting, compliance-audit, and penalty process. Continued failure to correct documented source-separation problems may result in escalating administrative penalties.

Source: San Francisco Environment Code §1908 — Enforcement · Large Refuse Generator Enforcement Overview

Property Manager Compliance Checklist (City and County of San Francisco)

Task Action / Requirement Resources / Links
☑ Provide Required Streams Provide an appropriate number and size of blue recycling, green compost, and black trash containers. Identify the containers appropriately and place the three streams as close together as possible for equal convenience. Sec. 1904 Owner/Manager Duties
☑ Subscribe to Adequate Service The property owner must subscribe to and pay for adequate authorized collection service for recycling, composting, and trash. Supplemental doorstep collection does not replace the required authorized service. Sec. 1907 Subscription Requirements
☑ Resident and Staff Education Provide source-separation information before occupancy or within 14 days after a new resident occupies the property. Re-educate residents, employees, and contractors at least annually. Sec. 1904 Education Requirements
☑ Monitor Capacity and Contamination Review container capacity, collection frequency, accessibility, signage, and recurring contamination. Adjust service or education when the existing program does not adequately handle the reasonably anticipated volume of each material stream. SF Environment: Mandatory Recycling and Composting
☑ LRG High-Volume Compliance If the account has a roll-off compactor or at least 40 cubic yards per week of total uncompacted refuse service, it qualifies as a Large Refuse Generator and is subject to periodic audits, corrective requirements, compliance reviews, and potential penalties. Large Refuse Generator Overview and Current Regulations
☑ AB 341 Alignment Multifamily properties with 5 or more units must arrange recycling service or use another authorized compliance method under California’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling law. CalRecycle: AB 341
☑ SB 1383 Alignment Participate in the applicable organics collection program. For multifamily properties with 5 or more units, provide adequate organics containers with compliant labels or colors, educate tenants and employees annually, and provide required information to new tenants within 14 days. CalRecycle: SB 1383 Collection Requirements

Need a fast compliance-support review? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your San Francisco property — we can help assess collection workflows, container access, resident education materials, and internal documentation practices.

Important Compliance Notice: National Doorstep provides supplemental collection, operational, and educational support. Its services do not replace required authorized recycling, composting, or trash collection service and do not independently guarantee compliance. Requirements, enforcement procedures, accepted materials, and property-specific obligations may change. Property owners and managers should confirm current requirements with SF Environment, Recology, CalRecycle, and qualified legal or environmental-compliance professionals. This page provides general information and is not legal advice.

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