Your Guide To Recycling Metal In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Sorting recycling can be tricky and it doesn't help that different cities have different rules. The City of Santa Cruz is trying to clear up what should go in their blue recycling bins and what must go to a facility.

Here's the rules and best practices, according to the city:

Food/beverage containers, aluminum foil

These items can be placed directly in your blue bins, including lids on packaging. But first, ensure the cans are empty and rinsed.

Hold down aerosol can nozzles until they stop making a hissing noise.

For small items such as bottle caps and lids, the city suggests that the public put these items in a metal can kept near the sink or recycling bin — this makes it easier for magnetic equipment to pick up small items. When you're ready to recycle the can full of lids and small metal items, pinch the top of the can.

Bunch up foils to make sorting easier, but don't bother if the foils are so greasy that they can't be cleaned. Greasy foils should be thrown away.

Scrap metal

Do not place cooking pans, fire extinguishers, wires, clothing hangers or other bulky household items in your blue bin, as they can damage the recycling center's sorting equipment. Not all hope is lost — you can recycle these items for free by taking them to the Resource Recovery Facility (605 Dimeo Lane).

Trash

There are some plastics that look like metals, but aren't. Think chip bags, candy wrappers or coffee bags. Throw these away.

Watch a video on Santa Cruz's recycling rules and tips below: