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Waste Reduction

Why Recycle?

Recycling saves natural resources. The earth’s resources are finite and recycling helps reduce the need for raw materials, such as trees, valuable minerals and fossil fuels.

Recycling saves energy. It takes less energy to manufacture products from recycled material. For example, one ton of recycled paper uses only 60% of the energy that is required to make one ton from raw materials.

Recycling preserves landfill space. California landfills are filling up and it is very expensive to build new ones.

Recycling creates and retains jobs. California has built a strong infrastructure to remanufacture recycled goods into new products.

In 1989, Assembly Bill 939 was enacted to reduce the amount of waste dumped into landfills by 50 percent by the year 2000. In addition, California legislature requires cities and counties to remain diligent and resourceful in their efforts to maintain a 50% recycling rate and to further waste reduction efforts for the coming decade and century.

Recycling Resources

Curbside Recycling. Curbside recycling is easy and convenient. Recycling service is available to Chico residents as a part of your regular trash collection service provided by either Recology Butte Colusa Counties or North Valley Waste Management.

Multifamily Recycling. Recycling is convenient and easy.  Minutes a week is all that is necessary to contribute to a successful recycling program. This is why the City of Chico requires that recycling service be made available to persons living in multifamily housing or apartment complexes. 

Electronic Wastes. E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life." Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream.

County Recycling Directory. This is Butte County's comprehensive recycling guide.

Beverage Recycling.Butte County has arranged this Guide into two major categories: By material and By community. Just got bottles and cans?  Click on the Beverage Container Recycling link for all locations in Butte County. If you want to find all the possibilities for recycling a particular item, look it up in the By material listings. You’ll find all the locations in Butte County that accept that item for recycling.

Yard Waste Recycling. To make it convenient to recycle your yard waste, the City of Chico established a curbside yard waste recycling program. This program is available through your garbage service provider for an additional monthly fee.

Household Hazardous Waste. Due to a cooperative agreement between the City of Chico and the County of Butte, all Butte County residents can now recycle or properly dispose of their household hazardous waste at the Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.

Used Oil Recycling. Did you know that used motor oil never wears out? It just gets dirty and can be recycled, cleaned, and used again. Recycling used motor oil conserves a natural resource (oil) and is good for the environment too! Motor oil poured onto the ground or into storm drains, or tossed into trash cans (even in a sealed container) can contaminate and pollute the soil, groundwater, streams, and rivers (and it's illegal!). Recycling your used motor oil reduces this pollution threat. When you take your used oil to a certified center for recycling, you are protecting the environment, conserving a valuable resource, and getting paid for it.

Reducing Junk Mail. Follow the steps on this page to reduce the amount of junk mail coming to your workplace or home.