El Cerrito Recycling Center

I love this place! It is so convenient to come and drop off your recycling waste and help the environment at the same time. The facility is nicely run by competent and helpful workers and is operated very efficiently in everything from the drive-thru driveway, parking, and bin placement. There are several areas that are available for you to utilize and that is the main recycling area where you can drop off your glass/plastic bottles, batteries, cardboard, scrap metal, electronics, mixed papers, office papers, used motor oil and cooking oil, etc. You can drop off your unwanted clothing into the large lock bins and there is even a donation trailer where they can take your household goods and get a tax receipt. Whatever can't be recycled in the bins or donated can be left in the exchange zone where it is a free-for-all area where people can go and pick up other's usable items. One thing I need to let you be aware of when you go to the recycling center that I really don't like is all the vultures (i.e people) loitering around looking into your car and your stuff waiting to pounce on anything you are leaving behind so they can pick it up and go sell it online or in their shops instead of going to the needy people or be recycled. The recycling center has rules and policies to deter people from picking up stuff from the bins unless it is in the exchange zone. But you get those people who will come up to you and pretend they work there asking if you have clothing or other goods to drop off. I just ignore them and put the stuff in the designated bins and keep a watchful eye on my car. One other thing to be aware of is if you are dropping off your electronics like laptops or computers please destroy the hard drive and when tossing the items into the bin, make sure to toss it far enough away that someone can't grab it. If the bin is full, ask a worker for a new bin.

Of all the places we’ve lived across the country, this is the most seamless and intuitive set up. Staff are friendly too in case you have any questions. They have recycling days for specific items too, ie styrofoam (thought I can’t remember off the top of my head 😅). Come with your boxes broken down/flat ahead of time so you aren’t taking up too much time in a parking spot (the line moves relatively quick). You can bring almost anything from old cooking oil, to batteries, books and clothes. We never visited the repository to take anything back home with us, but from the car window everything looks neat and organized.

It’s uncomfortable how many older folk hang around waiting for someone to drop stuff off and then they pounce on the items and discuss values and resale price points. Not illegal but definitely lame and skeevy. Overall the recycling center is great for dropping off repurposeable items. Wish clothing was accessible to look through but clothing goes into the large metal container.

Fantastic urban planning.....not only you can recycle large items that won't fit your garbage company's cans but also donate useable household items and books there. The facility is so well kept and organized in circular flow urban design. Highly recommend a visit....there is also a hiking trail next door for a easy run or stroll.