Can you recycle plastic bags in Stockton, CA?

Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility Republic Services / Waste Management uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your gray cart.

What do I do with batteries in Stockton, CA?

Batteries never go in any of your Stockton, CA carts — not the blue cart, not the gray cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Recycling rules in Stockton, CA

📍 Republic Services / Waste Management (City of Stockton) · 3-cart program

Who collects your recycling in Stockton, CA

Residential curbside collection in Stockton, CA is operated by Republic Services / Waste Management under contract to the city — the city sets the program and the fees, and Republic Services / Waste Management runs the trucks. Households get three carts — a blue cart for recyclables, a green cart for food scraps and yard trimmings, and a gray cart for everything else.

That third cart isn't optional: California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste collection statewide, which is why food scraps have their own cart here instead of going in the trash.

The quick answer for Stockton, CA

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Blue cart	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Blue cart	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Blue cart	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Blue cart	Lids off.
Food scraps	🌱 Green cart	Fruit, veg, leftovers, bones.
Greasy pizza box	🌱 Green cart	A clean box can be recycled instead.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Gray cart	Store drop-off is better.
Batteries	⚠️ Hazardous	Never curbside — tape the terminals.

This is the short list. The full A–Z of what is and isn't recyclable is on what can I recycle? — or scan the item and get the answer for Stockton, CA directly.

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Stockton, CA recycling FAQ

Can you recycle plastic bags in Stockton, CA?: Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility Republic Services / Waste Management uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your gray cart.
What do I do with batteries in Stockton, CA?: Batteries never go in any of your Stockton, CA carts — not the blue cart, not the gray cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Popular item guides

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Still not sure?

Rules vary by material and by hauler, and the sorting line is strict — one wrong item can contaminate a whole load. When in doubt, point your camera at the item for a verdict, or check the official Republic Services / Waste Management (City of Stockton) guide.