ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - What is blue, green, black and all over Elk Grove? 

Answer: Carts for recycling, organics and garbage.

Good for you, Elk Grove residents. You have used these bins from Republic Services for separating household and yard waste. You are getting accustomed to depositing food scraps in the kitchen pail provided. 

“Changing our behavioral habits isn’t always easy but the extra effort has had a direct impact on our environment,” said Kimberly Taylor, the city of Elk Grove’s recycling and waste manager.

How has this program been doing? 

“To evaluate if it is working, periodically 1,000 pounds of recycling and organic material is dumped out and analyzed to see if customers are separating according to the new rules,” Taylor said. “Though the sorting rate is not where we want it to be yet, it has improved considerably since its institution.”

In addition to curbside collection, Elk Grove residents can also reduce, reuse, recycle and safely dispose of materials at the Special Waste Collection Center.

Do you have hazardous materials such as batteries, which can start fires; paint; small or large electronics, or aerosol cans to get rid of? How about tires? Hypodermic needles? Medications? Fat, oil and grease? Fire extinguishers? Fertilizers? 

There are specific instructions for disposing of these items and sometimes special days for bringing them in. For a list of acceptable and unacceptable items, go to elkgrovecity.org/recycle. As of Dec. 1, Styrofoam is not accepted at the Special Waste Collection Center. 

In the Recycling Area that is open to the public are large, labeled dumpsters for cardboard (in 2023, 120 tons of cardboard was recycled by the facility) metals and green waste that doesn’t fit in your home container. There is also a covered area for donating clothes and shoes.

Carlos Duque, the Waste Program coordinator who oversees the Special Waste Collection Center Operations, is especially proud of their new aerosol can crusher. 

“This machine extracts the remaining liquid and then can safely smash the cans into small units,” Duque said.

Clean and green definitely applies at this recycling facility.

The site has LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Metal certification for sustainable design using green power, water and energy savings, and air quality.

Full protective gear is worn by employees who handle dangerous materials, and exhaust fans over workstations vent out fumes. A training course and medical evaluation precedes staff hiring. Anti-fatigue mats help workers with standing for extended periods.

Sam Iverson, site manager, runs the day-to-day operation, and he manages seven employees and interactions with the public. Iverson and other employees identify and sort the recyclables and package materials for shipment. If a substance comes in without identifying information, it is thoroughly tested to decide what it is and what category it should be placed in for proper disposal.

One perk for Elk Grove residents is a “store” of safe salvaged items. Residents can choose up to 10 products or objects per month free of charge. 

It is surprising what residents throw away. The office has a collection of old items, such as a lineup of antiquated cell phones from the first model made in 1985.

Take recyclables to 9255 Disposal Lane, Elk Grove, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Wednesdays.