📍 Address: 669 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710 (corner of 2nd Street, vehicle entrance from Second Street)
☎️ Phone: (510) 524-0113 • ✉️ Email: info@berkeleyrecycling.org
🕒 Drop-off Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM to 4 PM • Sat 9 AM to 4 PM • Sun closed
💰 Buyback Hours: Mon–Sat 9 AM to 4 PM • Sun closed
🏢 Operated by: Community Conservation Centers, Inc., a Berkeley non-profit running the site since 1976.
The Berkeley Recycling Center at 669 Gilman Street is one of the few full-service drop-off and CRV buyback facilities still operating in the East Bay. It is run by the non-profit Community Conservation Centers under contract with the City of Berkeley. The site accepts a much wider range of materials than the standard blue cart, including scrap metal, large appliances, batteries, fluorescent tubes, and CRV-marked bottles and cans for cash refunds.
Berkeley Recycling Center Hours and Holiday Schedule
The facility runs two parallel operations: a free drop-off for most materials, and a paid buyback for CRV beverage containers. They keep slightly different hours, so check the right column before driving over.
| Day | Drop-off | Buyback (CRV pay) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8 AM – 4 PM | 9 AM – 4 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM – 4 PM | 9 AM – 4 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM – 4 PM | 9 AM – 4 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM – 4 PM | 9 AM – 4 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM – 4 PM | 9 AM – 4 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 4 PM | 9 AM – 4 PM |
| Sunday | CLOSED | CLOSED |
📅 Holiday closures and half-days (per the operator’s published schedule):
Fully closed: New Year’s Day, Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Half-days, closing at 12:00 noon: Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Christmas Eve.
The center stays open on most other federal holidays. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, observance varies. Call (510) 524-0113 the day before to confirm.
How to Drop Off at Berkeley Recycling Center
The on-site flow is documented on the operator’s facility map. Follow the order below to avoid circling back through the entrance.
- Pre-sort at home before you load the car. Separate paper into two stacks: cardboard and brown paper bags in one, mixed paper, books, and magazines in the other. Empty all containers and remove caps. Separate glass bottles by color (clear, green, brown).
- Approach via Second Street, not Gilman. The vehicle entrance is on 2nd Street at the Gilman corner. Gilman Street is sidewalk-only along the property.
- At the split, choose drop-off (left) or buyback (right). Drop-off is for free or low-fee disposal. Buyback is where CalRecycle-certified staff pay CRV refunds for cans, glass bottles, and #1 plus #3–#7 plastic beverage containers. You can use both lanes on the same visit.
- For the drop-off lane: follow the painted lanes to the labeled bins. Paper bins on your immediate left, scrap metal at the far end, batteries and bulbs station mid-lot, large-appliance area to the right of batteries.
- For the buyback lane: tell the attendant whether you want to be paid by count or by weight. Under CalRecycle rules, you can request by-count payment for up to 50 containers per material type per visit (50 aluminum, 50 glass, 50 plastic, 50 bi-metal). Above 50 containers of any single material, the operator decides between count and weight.
- For fee items (large appliances, books, lamp ballasts, HID bulbs): tell the attendant first and pay the posted fee. Card and cash are both accepted.
- Bring a photo ID for larger CRV payouts. CalRecycle requires a valid California driver’s licence, ID, or licence-plate number for any single CRV transaction over $100. State law also caps daily redemption at 100 lbs of aluminum, 100 lbs of plastic, and 1,000 lbs of glass per consumer.
What’s Accepted at Berkeley Recycling Center
Items split into three buckets: things that pay you (CRV buyback), things you can drop free, and things that carry a small fee. Berkeley Recycling does not require Alameda County residency for any of them.
💰 Buyback — you get paid (CRV redemption)
Aluminum beverage cans
- Soft drinks, beer, carbonated juice, sparkling water
- Must be empty (no need to crush)
- 5¢ per container under 24 oz, 10¢ per container 24 oz or larger
Glass bottles (CRV)
- Soda, beer, carbonated juice bottles
- Empty, caps removed, separated by color
- Window glass and drinking glasses are not CRV-eligible
Plastic beverage containers
- #1 PET soda and water bottles
- #3 to #7 CRV-marked bottles
- Caps off, rinsed if sticky
- Wine and spirits in pouches, boxes, and bladders are 25¢ each (since Jan 1, 2024)
Aluminum scrap
- Foil, signs, window frames, rims, car and bicycle parts
- Buyback purchases capped at $20 per visit
- Loads above $20 should go to the drop-off side instead (free)
♻️ Free drop-off
Paper and cardboard
- Mixed paper, newspapers, magazines
- Corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags
- Books in good condition (hard-bound bin); damaged books charged at $70 per ton
Steel and tin scrap metal
- Tin cans (rinsed), bicycle parts, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves
- Empty propane tanks and cylinders cut in half or with a 4-inch hole
- Drained lawnmowers and small engines
Non-CRV glass
- Wine bottles, jars, food bottles
- Caps removed, color-separated
- No window glass, no drinkware
Batteries — all free
- Alkaline AAA, AA, C, D, button
- Lithium (separate from alkaline)
- Cell phone, tool, and automotive batteries
Small metal appliances
- Toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, fans
- Must be at least 80% metal by content
#2 HDPE jugs and rigid plastics
- Milk, water, juice, detergent, motor-oil bottles (#2)
- 5-gal buckets, crates, nursery pots, plastic chairs
- Empty and reasonably clean
💵 Fee items
Large appliances — $20 each
- Water heaters, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, furnaces
- NO refrigerated appliances. Take refrigerators, freezers, mini-fridges, and AC units to the Berkeley Transfer Station instead
Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts
- 4-ft and 8-ft tubes, CFLs, circular bulbs. Small quantities are often free for Alameda County residents under the universal-waste program
- Lamp ballasts must be removed from the fixture and labeled “PCB-free”
- HID bulbs (metal halide, sodium vapor): small quantity free, larger fee-based
Books in poor condition
- $70 per ton (a typical small load is well under $1)
- Better-condition books: try Half Price Books on Solano Avenue or local Little Free Libraries first
What’s Not Accepted (and where to take them instead)
🚫 Refrigerators and freezers
Coolant must be evacuated by a certified handler. Take to:
- Berkeley Transfer Station, 1201 Second St, Berkeley
🚫 Microwaves and e-waste
Take electronics, computers, monitors, and microwaves to:
- Computer & Technology Resource Center (formerly E-waste Collective), 620 Page Street, Berkeley. Free for California residents
- Or the Berkeley Transfer Station listed above
🚫 Plastic film, bags, and aerosols
Plastic bags, plastic film, and aerosol cans are not accepted.
- Plastic bags: drop boxes at Berkeley Bowl, Safeway, and Target
- Aerosols: Alameda County HHW program
🚫 Hazardous and flammable materials
Paint, solvents, propane, gasoline, pesticides, antifreeze, brake fluid:
- Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Free for residents, by appointment
🚫 Window glass and drinkware
These are contaminants. Do not put with bottles and jars.
- Reusable glassware: Urban Ore (900 Murray St)
- Broken window glass: wrap and place in landfill cart
🚫 Wine corks and wax-coated cardboard
No longer accepted on site.
- Wax-coated cardboard goes in the landfill cart
- Wine corks: search the RE:Source database for current drop-off points
Map and Directions
Berkeley Recycling Center sits in the West Berkeley industrial corridor, two blocks south of the Gilman Street I-80 exit and one block west of San Pablo Avenue. Most visitors arrive by car since you are typically hauling materials.
Local Berkeley Tips Most People Don’t Know
- You don’t need to be a Berkeley resident. There is no residency requirement and no ID check at the gate. Anyone in the Bay Area can drop off at the free lanes or sell at the buyback. Photo ID is only required for CRV transactions over $100, under CalRecycle rules.
- Daily CRV weight limits are real. CalRecycle caps redemption at 100 lbs of aluminum, 100 lbs of plastic, and 1,000 lbs of glass per consumer per day. Loads exceeding the cap will be rejected.
- The $20 aluminum-scrap buyback cap is per visit. If you have a larger scrap aluminum load such as window frames, gutters, or automotive parts, route to the drop-off side instead of the buyback. The drop-off accepts it free.
- Reuse first, recycle second. Building materials, furniture, dishware, and electronics in working condition all get rejected here as “not recyclable.” Take them three blocks south to Urban Ore at 900 Murray Street. Urban Ore pays cash for resaleable goods through their Outside Trader department.
- StopWaste’s RE:Source guide is the master directory. If something is not on the accepted list, search it at resource.stopwaste.org. It is Alameda County’s official “where do I take this?” tool covering thousands of items including textiles, mattresses, Styrofoam, and oil filters.
- Curbside pickup covers most weekly recycling. Berkeley residents already get blue-cart pickup of paper, cardboard, cans, bottles, and #1 and #2 plastics through the City of Berkeley Zero Waste Division. Use Berkeley Recycling Center for the things curbside does not take: scrap metal, large appliances, batteries, fluorescent tubes, and CRV redemption.
- The Transfer Station and the Recycling Center are different facilities. Berkeley Recycling Center (669 Gilman St, run by Community Conservation Centers) handles clean recyclables and CRV. Berkeley Transfer Station (1201 Second St, run by the City of Berkeley) handles refuse, refrigerators, treated wood, and construction debris. Most residents need both at different times. The Transfer Station also pays 16¢ per gallon for up to 20 gallons of used motor oil per customer.
- CRV rates update annually. Per-pound CRV rates are revised by CalRecycle each July 1. The current per-container rates are 5¢ for containers under 24 oz, 10¢ for containers 24 oz and over, and 25¢ for wine and spirits in pouches, boxes, or bladders.
Useful Berkeley Resources and Official Links
- Berkeley Recycling — Official WebsiteOperating hours, full materials guide, and live recycling-guide search tool.
- City of Berkeley Zero Waste DivisionCurbside service signup, schedule changes, holiday pickup adjustments.
- Berkeley Transfer StationFor refrigerators, treated wood, motor oil, and construction debris (1201 Second St, (510) 981-7270).
- StopWaste — Alameda CountyHousehold hazardous waste, paint, sharps, and pharmacy take-back program.
- RE:Source DatabaseSearchable directory for over 1,000 specific items in the East Bay.
- Computer & Technology Resource CenterFree electronics, computer, and microwave drop-off in West Berkeley (620 Page St, (415) 883-1428).
- Urban OrePays cash for reusable building materials, furniture, books, and household goods (900 Murray St, (510) 841-7283).
- CalRecycle — Beverage Container Recycling ProgramState agency that administers CRV. Includes per-pound rates and consumer rules.
- CalRecycle CRV Center LocatorState’s official CRV redemption-center finder if Berkeley is closed or full.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Berkeley Recycling Center open and close?
The drop-off is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM, and closed Sunday. The CRV buyback runs 9 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday. Both operations close at 4 PM, so plan to arrive with a buyback queue load by 3:30 PM to ensure time for weighing and payout before close.
Is Berkeley Recycling Center open on Sundays?
No. Both the drop-off and the buyback are closed every Sunday year-round. The Berkeley Transfer Station is also closed on Sundays. For Sunday CRV redemption, check the CalRecycle locator or use in-store redemption at participating Safeway, Target, or supermarket locations during their normal Sunday hours.
What are the holiday hours for Berkeley Recycling Center?
The center is fully closed on New Year’s Day, Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. It runs half-days closing at 12 noon on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Christmas Eve. All other federal holidays follow normal operating hours. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, observance varies. Call (510) 524-0113 the day before to confirm.
Does Berkeley Recycling Center pay cash for cans and bottles?
Yes. They are a California-certified CRV buyback center. The current rates set by CalRecycle are 5¢ per container under 24 oz, 10¢ per container 24 oz or larger, and 25¢ for wine and spirits in pouches, boxes, or bladders. You can request to be paid by count for up to 50 containers per material type per visit (50 aluminum, 50 glass, 50 plastic, 50 bi-metal). Above 50, the operator decides between count and weight payment. Bring a valid California ID for any single transaction over $100.
What can I drop off for free at Berkeley Recycling Center?
Free drop-off includes paper and cardboard, non-CRV glass bottles and jars, steel and tin scrap metal, small metal appliances at least 80% metal, all standard household batteries (alkaline, lithium, button, automotive), and #2 HDPE jugs plus rigid plastics such as 5-gallon buckets and nursery pots. Most universal-waste items in small residential quantities, including fluorescent tubes for Alameda County residents, are also accepted free.
Does Berkeley Recycling Center take large appliances and refrigerators?
They accept most large appliances such as water heaters, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and furnaces for a flat $20 per appliance fee. They do not accept any refrigerated appliances (refrigerators, freezers, mini-fridges, AC units) because the refrigerant has to be removed by a certified technician first. Take refrigerated appliances to the Berkeley Transfer Station at 1201 Second Street instead.
Can I recycle electronics, TVs, and computers at Berkeley Recycling Center?
No. They do not take e-waste like TVs, computers, monitors, microwaves, or printers. For free e-waste drop-off, take those items to the Computer & Technology Resource Center at 620 Page Street in Berkeley. They accept the full range of electronic devices including tablets, gaming consoles, cables, and small appliances with circuit boards, free for California residents. Wipe data from any device with storage before drop-off.
Do I need to be a Berkeley resident to use the recycling center?
No. There is no residency requirement and no ID check at the gate. Anyone in the Bay Area, including Albany, El Cerrito, Oakland, Emeryville, and Richmond residents, can use the drop-off lanes or the buyback. Photo ID is only required for CRV payouts above $100 in a single transaction, which is a CalRecycle requirement, not a Berkeley one.
How much CRV can I redeem in one day?
California sets a per-consumer daily limit of 100 lbs of aluminum, 100 lbs of plastic, and 1,000 lbs of glass for CRV redemption. Loads above the daily cap will be rejected. For very large loads, plan to spread visits across multiple days or check whether your load qualifies for commercial-account processing through Community Conservation Centers directly.
What’s the difference between Berkeley Recycling Center and Berkeley Transfer Station?
They are two separate facilities run by different operators. Berkeley Recycling Center at 669 Gilman Street, run by Community Conservation Centers, handles clean recyclables, scrap metal, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and CRV buyback. Most items are free. Berkeley Transfer Station at 1201 Second Street, run by the City of Berkeley, handles mixed loads, refuse, refrigerated appliances, treated wood, carpet, construction debris, and motor oil (with a 16¢ per gallon payment up to 20 gallons). Most residents need both facilities at different times.