3D graphics of four bins of paper, glass, plastic and metal. Each container is filled with the marked material type.
Problems sorting which bin something belongs in? Try Where it Goes, a search tool with guidance on the disposal (or donation!) of over 400 materials!
A man uses a laptop computer while eating breakfast, "Burbank - Where it goes - Answers at Your Disposal" is on the screen.

Want to know more about "Where it Goes"? Read our pamphlet (.PDF) in: 
English, Spanish and Armenian.

Download our three-stream Cart Signs (.PDF) for easy reference. This bundled set includes English, Spanish and Armenian.

Cart Signs are also available as individual language sets (.PDF):
English, Spanish and Armenian.

 Acceptable Items (Must be 4" or larger in size. Tiny items aren't recycled)
  • Newspapers
  • Cans, emptied and rinsed (aluminum and tin/steel)
  • Cans, aerosol, non-hazardous, and completely empty
  • Glass bottles and jars, emptied and rinsed 
    • Note: While accepted in the blue cart, it is preferred that glass bottles and food jars are dropped off at the Burbank Recycle Center to avoid glass colors breaking and mixing.
  • Plastics
    • #1 - bottles and jars and clear clamshells (produce containers, cups, and takeout ware)
    • #2 - bottles and jugs
    • #5 - tubs, yogurt containers, coffee can lids, etc. (no black)
  • Magazines, catalogs, and phone books
  • Junk mail, ads, office paper, cereal boxes (loose or in paper bags)
  • Cardboard and paperboard (includes clean pizza boxes)
    • Please remove all packaging/plastic wrap and tape, when possible.
Prohibited Items
  • Paint and other hazardous items
  • Paper that has touched food (napkins, plates, cups, towels, tissues, food wrappers, frozen food boxes,  soiled portion of pizza boxes)
  • Polystyrene Foam or Styrofoam
  • Plastic bags
  • Carbon papers
  • Metallic papers
  • Tissue/toilet paper
  • Garbage
  • Shredded paper
Print our Recycle Cart Sticker Sign (PDF) for a quick guide of what can and cannot go in your cart. Also available in Armenian (PDF) and Spanish (PDF). 

Food scraps are allowed in the curbside collection green cart! 
Check out Organics Recycling for more information.


Accepted Items
  • Yard Trimmings (leaves, grass clippings, branches, brush, twigs, shrubs, hedges, etc.)
  • Trees
  • Food scraps, including animal-derived products (meat, dairy, eggshells, etc.)
  • Food-soiled paper (no plastic lining)
Prohibited Items
  • Household items 
  • Plastic bags
  • Pet waste 
  • Horse manure 
  • Dirt 
Print our Green Cart Sticker Sign (PDF) for a quick guide of what can and cannot go in your cart. Also available in Armenian (PDF) and Spanish (PDF). 

Backyard composting is a great way to recycle greenwaste! Learn more at Composting. 
Sometimes, what we throw away could be still useful. Before disposing of an item, consider "reduce and reuse" such as donation or repurposing first.  

The following are common items that go in the trash container:
  • Anything not considered recyclable (see Blue Container)
  • Items not considered household hazardous waste (HHW)
  • Unrecyclable plastics (#3, 4, 6, 7 or undisclosed)
    • Small plastics (4" in diameter or smaller)
    • Plastic bag (film products)
  • Compostable plastic
  • Wrappers and pouches
  • Paper cups (and any paper lined in plastic)
  • Cartons
  • Wipes
  • Foam (polystyrene)
  • Tanglers (hoses, string lights, bags)
  • Textiles
  • Toys (electronics or anything with a battery is not allowed and considered hazardous waste and must be dropped off at a HHW collection site)
  •  Dirt*
  • Horse manure
  • Pet waste
Prohibited Items
  • Household hazardous waste (ewaste, paints, pesticides, medicines, chemicals, tanks, etc.)
  • Yard clippings (organics)
  • Food scraps (organics)
  • Liquid such as cooking oil (S.A.F.E. Center)
  • Hot ashes and coal
  • Dead animals**
*Containers can accommodate no more than 200 pounds. Please do not overload them with large quantities of sand, soil, or other heavy materials. Overloaded containers will be tagged and not emptied until materials are offloaded. 

**Contact the Burbank Animal Shelter at (818) 238-3340 for more information about animals. 

Print our Trash Cart Sticker Sign (PDF) for a quick guide of what can and cannot go in your cart. Also available in Armenian (PDF) and Spanish (PDF). 
additional resources
View our Quick Recycle Guide (.PDF) for a handy reference on best practices for recycling.
Our Smart Curb Guide (.PDF) outlines how to properly park your carts for collection day.
As of July 1, 2022, food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings go in the green cart. 
The City of Burbank is offering residents a free pail for managing food scraps. Click to learn more!