Recycling and Donation Directory - Davis

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 give away packaging materials onBoxGiver. 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.

Index

A

Aerosol cans, empty — Place in your recycling cart. Can also be taken to Yolo County Central Landfill or Davis Waste Removal
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.
Air conditioning freon — this is household hazardous waste take to Yolo County Central Landfill hazardous waste drop off days
Ammonia-based cleaners — take to hazardous waste drop off days
Ammunition — Call the Yolo Explosive Bomb Investigative Unit at 530-668-5280 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
Asbestos (friable) — Take to hazardous waste drop off days. Please Note: Must be wetted, doubled bagged, securely sealed and labeled to be accepted. Contact Class II Landfills for more disposal options.
Asphalt (broken) — Granite Construction (787-2012), Teichert Aggregates (661-4290), or Yolo County Central Landfill
Automobile — Donate for reuse at Habitat for Humanity ((916) 440-1215x1120), The National Kidney Foundation ((800) 488-2277), Volunteers for America ((916) 442-3691), or Yolo Community Care Continuum (758-2160)
Automobile oil — free 24 hour drop-off at Davis Waste Removal, during business hours at Jiffy Lube, during business hours at Davisville Express Lube, during business hours at Kragen Auto Parts, during business hours at Speedee Oil Change & Tune Up, and at the Yolo County Central Landfill during normal business hours
Automobile parts (metal, clean with no oil) — Recycle 24/7 at Davis Waste Removal, or during business hours recycle at Green Zone Recycling in Woodland (661-6800), and Yolo County Central Landfill
Automobile tires — for a fee at Yolo County Central Landfill
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 clothes — Accepted at All Things Right and Relevant, Davis Community Clinic, Goodwill, Just KIDding, Pregnancy Support Group of Woodland (661-6333), Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center, SPCA Thrift Store, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento (1-800-860-0357), Yolo Hospice Thrift Store, and Yolo Wayfarer Center (661-1218)
Baby diapers — Goodwill, Just KIDding, Pregnancy Support Group of Woodland (661-6333), Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center, Short Term Emergency Aid Committee STEAC, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento (1-800-860-0357), Yolo Hospice Thrift Store, and Yolo Wayfarer Center (661-1218)
Baby supplies — Goodwill, Just KIDding, Pregnancy Support Group of Woodland (661-6333), Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center, Short Term Emergency Aid Committee STEAC, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento (1-800-860-0357), Yolo Hospice Thrift Store, and Yolo Wayfarer Center (661-1218)
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 — State law requires stores to accept your old battery upon the purchase of a new battery. Automotive batteries can also be taken to the Yolo County Central Landfill at the recycling center for free drop-off daily during normal business hours and Big O Tires
Bicycle parts, usable — Donate to Bike Forth
Bicycle parts, worn

Inner tubes — Use un-punctured parts to patch another punctured inner tube or use as bungee cords.
Tires — Recycle at Yolo County Central Landfill, fees may apply.
Bicycles — Donate to Bike Forth

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 — Place in your recycling cart or recycle at Davis Waste Removal with the other "Rigid plastics", 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. Recycle at Yolo County Central Landfill .
Cassette tapes, video — Donate at the Davis Public Library. Recycle at Yolo County Central Landfill .
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, Goodwill Donation Express. All Things Right and Relevant consigns clothes that are in-season and in good condition. Clothes For The Cause can help you with your clothing drive fundraisers. '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. Place in your recycling cart, or 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 placed in your recycling cart or 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 — Most accepted for free at the Yolo County Central Landfill. 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 — Place in your recycling cart or recycle at Davis Waste Removal with the other "Rigid plastics".
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 or Goodwill Donation Express
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 — Place in organic waste bin, or compost with fall leaves. 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, Goodwill Donation Express, 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"
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, Jiffy Lube, ["Davisville Express Lube'] and Yolo County Central Landfill. Davis Waste Removal, Kragen Auto Parts, Davisville Express Lube and Yolo County Central Landfill also accept used oil filters.

* 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) — Place in recycling cart.
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 -#7 plastics (see the little triangle imprint on the bottom of the container) and all other rigid plastic items can be placed in your recycling cart for recycling. They can also be recycled at 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 placed in your recycling cart or recycled at Davis Waste Removal with the other "Rigid plastics" 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.