Berkeley Recycling Center 2026: Hours, Drop-Off, Buyback Schedule & Map
Use this local Berkeley guide before you load your car. It explains the 669 Gilman Street drop-off and buyback schedules, CRV redemption steps, accepted materials, rejected items, appliance fees, holiday half-days, map directions, and when the City of Berkeley Transfer Station is the better choice.
Quick Answer: Berkeley Recycling Center at 669 Gilman Street
Berkeley Recycling is at 669 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, at the corner of Second Street. Use it for approved recyclable drop-off and CRV buyback. The most common mistake is treating drop-off, buyback, and the City Transfer Station as the same service. They are not the same.
Use the City of Berkeley Transfer Station at 1201 Second Street when your item is paid disposal, refuse, construction and demolition material, organics, mattress, tire, propane tank, appliance, or other special-handling material under city rules.
Berkeley Recycling Center Hours: Drop-Off vs Buyback Schedule
The official hours separate drop-off and buyback. Weekday drop-off starts earlier than buyback, while Sunday is closed. This matters because a person dropping off cardboard may use a different flow than a person trying to redeem CRV containers for payment.
The screenshot is placed here because this is the action point where most users decide whether to drive now, wait until buyback opens, avoid Sunday, or use the City Transfer Station instead.
| Day / Situation | Drop-Off Recycling | Buyback / CRV | Best Practical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Friday | 8:00 AM-4:00 PM | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | Best for first-time users, seniors, sorted materials, and avoiding Saturday traffic. |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM on the main official hours table. | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | Best regular weekend option. Sort before arrival because lines can move slowly. |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed | Do not plan a Sunday trip to Berkeley Recycling. |
| Holiday half-days | Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Christmas Eve are listed as half-days with closing at noon. | Arrive early or choose another day. | |
| Holiday closures | New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day are listed as closures. | Check the official hours page before loading material. | |
Is Berkeley Recycling Center Open Today, Saturday or Sunday?
If today is Monday through Friday, drop-off generally opens earlier than buyback. If today is Saturday, it is the main weekend service day. If today is Sunday, Berkeley Recycling is closed. The nearby City Transfer Station is also closed on Sundays.
Drop-Off vs Buyback: Choose the Right Line Before You Enter
The official drop-off instructions tell users to enter from Second Street, turn left toward the drop-off area, watch for forklifts and moving vehicles, place material in the correct bin or area, and ask a recycling aide in a safety vest if help is needed.
The buyback process is different. Official buyback guidance says to enter at the first gate on Second Street, wait in line by the stop sign, sort materials before entering the line when possible, and use the payment-window process after materials are weighed or counted.
| User Goal | Use Drop-Off? | Use Buyback? | What Usually Goes Wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| I want to recycle cardboard, mixed paper, cans, or bottles without payment. | Yes, if accepted and prepared. | No, unless you want payment for eligible material. | Wet cardboard, waxed cardboard, unsorted glass, or dirty containers. |
| I want CRV redemption for beverage containers. | You can donate them, but drop-off is not the payment route. | Yes. | Waiting in the wrong lane or mixing CRV and non-CRV materials. |
| I have batteries or fluorescent bulbs. | Only selected accepted universal waste items. | No. | Broken bulbs, unsorted batteries, or assuming all hazardous waste is accepted. |
| I have trash, mattress, tire, debris, or organics. | No. | No. | Go to the City Transfer Station rules instead. |
Berkeley Buyback and CRV Rules: How to Avoid Losing Time
Berkeley Recycling’s Buyback is a certified recycling center for consumer container refunds. The official page explains that California Refund Value is paid back when eligible aluminum, plastic, glass, and bi-metal beverage containers are recycled at certified centers.
- Sort before you arrive. Separate aluminum, plastic, glass, and bi-metal materials before entering the buyback line.
- Enter the correct gate. Use the first gate on Second Street for Buyback and wait by the stop sign.
- Use the parking area if you need to sort. If the load is mixed, pull into the parking spots after the entrance, finish sorting, then get back in line.
- Expect weighing or counting. The official page says Berkeley Recycling pays for individual containers up to 50; otherwise payment is by weight.
- Bring ID for larger values. Bring a government-issued ID if your material may exceed the official ID threshold.
Accepted Items at Berkeley Recycling Center
Berkeley Recycling accepts many common recyclables, but preparation rules matter. A material can be the right type and still be rejected if it is wet, dirty, unsorted, too small, full of liquid, broken, or placed in the wrong area.
| Material | Accepted Examples | Preparation Rule | Go Here Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and cardboard | Cardboard, brown paper bags, mixed paper, newspaper, magazines, phone books, books. | Cardboard should be dry and flattened. Mixed paper should be mostly dry. No waxed cardboard. | Drop-off area or applicable buyback paper area. |
| Cans and metal | Aluminum cans, aluminum foil, clean pet food cans, aluminum scrap, tin cans, bi-metal cans, mostly steel scrap. | Empty cans only. Foil should have no food waste. Small engines and lawnmowers must have fluids drained. | Correct metal bin or buyback process if eligible. |
| Glass | Glass bottles and jars, including CRV glass beverage containers. | Empty, remove caps, and sort by color: clear, brown, and green. | Drop-off color bins or Buyback glass process. |
| Plastics | #1 PET narrow-neck bottles and jugs, #2 HDPE narrow-neck jugs and bottles, #3-#7 CRV containers, clean plastic containers, rigid plastics. | Empty, clean, sorted by number where required, no caps, no small plastics under 2.5 inches. | Plastic drop-off bins or Buyback if CRV eligible. |
| Selected HHW / universal waste | Fluorescent bulbs, household batteries, tool batteries, automotive batteries, PCB-free ballasts, and appliances. | Bulbs sorted by length/type, batteries sorted by type, appliances handled under fee rules; no refrigerators. | Specified drop-off area only. |
Not Accepted, Rejected, or “Use Another Place” Items
The most useful rule is simple: do not bring a load just because the item “looks recyclable.” Berkeley Recycling’s own plastic page warns about wishful recycling, where items that cannot be processed are put into the recycling stream and cause problems.
Fees, Payments, and Cost Notes
There are three different money questions: buyback payment, appliance fees, and Transfer Station disposal charges. Keep them separate so you do not arrive expecting the wrong service.
| Money Question | Practical Answer | Verify Here |
|---|---|---|
| Will Berkeley Recycling pay me for CRV? | Buyback may pay for eligible CRV and purchased materials under official rules. Prepare material before arrival. | Official Buyback page |
| Does Berkeley Recycling pay cash? | Do not plan on cash. The official buyback guidance states Berkeley Recycling does not pay cash. | Official payment guidance |
| Are appliances free? | No. Berkeley Recycling lists a $20 fee per appliance and says refrigerators are not accepted. | Official drop-off page |
| What about trash or disposal loads? | Those are usually Transfer Station questions, not Berkeley Recycling buyback questions. City rates apply. | Official Transfer Station rates |
Berkeley Recycling Center vs City of Berkeley Transfer Station
The City Transfer Station at 1201 Second Street is close enough to confuse many visitors, but it is not the same as Berkeley Recycling at 669 Gilman Street. The Transfer Station is for disposal and resource recovery under City of Berkeley rules and fees.
| User Need | Use Berkeley Recycling? | Use City Transfer Station? | Important Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRV beverage containers | Yes, use Buyback or donate at drop-off. | Usually not the best first choice. | Read labels and sort before arrival. |
| Cardboard, paper, cans, glass, selected plastics | Yes, when accepted and prepared. | Possibly under city rules, but Berkeley Recycling is usually the more direct recycling route. | Keep material clean, dry, empty, and sorted. |
| Refuse, C&D material, organics, mixed loads | No. | Yes, under posted city rates. | Rates and environmental compliance fees may apply. |
| Mattress, tire, propane tank, appliance, electronics beyond limits | Only if accepted under a specific Berkeley Recycling category. | Check City Transfer Station rules and rates. | Special item fees may apply. |
| Walking in without a vehicle | Follow Berkeley Recycling facility instructions. | No. City rules say there is no pedestrian access. | Transfer Station customers must be inside a vehicle. |
Material Preparation Checklist Before You Go
- Choose your service first. Drop-off is for accepted materials; buyback is for eligible material where payment is expected; Transfer Station is for disposal and special handling.
- Sort by material type. Separate cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum, bi-metal cans, tin cans, glass colors, plastic numbers, batteries, bulbs, and metals.
- Keep paper and cardboard dry. Flatten cardboard and keep waxed cardboard out.
- Empty all containers. No liquid in bottles, jars, cans, or plastic containers. Remove caps from glass and CRV plastic where required.
- Protect bulbs and batteries. Sort bulbs by type and size; do not tape bulbs together or break them. Sort batteries by type.
- Drain small engines. Lawnmowers and small engines must have fluids drained before arrival.
- Do not bring refrigerators to Berkeley Recycling. Refrigerators are not accepted by Berkeley Recycling.
Common Problems That Waste a Trip
Berkeley Recycling Center Map and Directions
Berkeley Recycling is at 669 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710. For buyback, the official instructions say to enter at the first gate on Second Street and wait by the stop sign. For drop-off, official guidance says to enter safely, turn immediately left, watch for forklifts and vehicles, and use the proper bin or area.
Map note: Use this map for general driving direction help only. Use Berkeley Recycling and City of Berkeley official pages for the final word on hours, accepted materials, fees, site rules, and closures.
Official Pages to Verify Before Visiting
Use these official pages for final decisions before you drive. This guide is independent and is meant to help you understand the process, not replace the official rules.
Frequently Asked Questions About Berkeley Recycling Center
Where is Berkeley Recycling Center?
Berkeley Recycling is at 669 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, near Second Street. The listed phone number is 510-524-0113.
What are Berkeley Recycling Center hours in 2026?
The official hours table lists drop-off Monday-Friday 8 AM-4 PM, buyback Monday-Friday 9 AM-4 PM, Saturday 9 AM-4 PM, and Sunday closed. Always verify before a holiday or special trip.
Is Berkeley Recycling Center open on Sunday?
No. Berkeley Recycling is listed as closed on Sundays. The City of Berkeley Transfer Station is also closed on Sundays.
What is the difference between drop-off and buyback?
Drop-off is for placing accepted recyclables in the correct bins or areas. Buyback is for eligible CRV and purchased materials that are inspected, weighed or counted, and then handled through the payment process.
Does Berkeley Recycling pay cash for CRV?
No. Berkeley Recycling’s official buyback guidance says it does not pay cash. Plan for the official payment process instead.
Do I need ID for Berkeley buyback?
ID is required when processing more than $100 worth of materials at the Buyback. Bring ID if you are bringing a larger CRV load.
Can I recycle cardboard at Berkeley Recycling?
Yes. Berkeley Recycling accepts cardboard. It should preferably be dry and flattened. Brown paper bags are okay, but waxed cardboard is not accepted.
Does Berkeley Recycling accept plastic bags or Styrofoam?
No. Berkeley Recycling lists plastic bags, film plastic, Styrofoam, rubber, PVC pipe, vinyl, laminated plastic, and small plastics under 2.5 inches as not accepted plastic problems.
Does Berkeley Recycling accept batteries and light bulbs?
Selected batteries and fluorescent bulbs are accepted under specific preparation rules. Batteries should be sorted by type, and bulbs should be sorted by size/type, placed carefully, and not broken or taped together.
Does Berkeley Recycling accept refrigerators?
No. Berkeley Recycling states that refrigerators are not accepted. Large appliances are listed with a fee, but refrigerated appliances are excluded.
When should I use the City of Berkeley Transfer Station?
Use the Transfer Station for disposal and resource recovery needs such as refuse, construction and demolition material, organics, mattresses, tires, propane tanks, appliances, and other city-rate items. Transfer Station users must be inside a vehicle.
Is this the official Berkeley Recycling website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent help guide. Always verify current hours, fees, buyback rules, accepted items, and closure notices on Berkeley Recycling or City of Berkeley official pages before visiting.
Final Local Summary
Use Berkeley Recycling at 669 Gilman Street for approved recyclable drop-off and CRV buyback. Use drop-off when you want to place accepted materials in the right bins. Use buyback when you want payment for eligible CRV or purchased materials and you are ready to sort, weigh, count, and follow the payment-window process.
Do not use Berkeley Recycling as a general dump. For refuse, construction debris, mattresses, tires, organics, propane tanks, appliances, paid disposal, and special city-rate items, check the City of Berkeley Transfer Station at 1201 Second Street instead.