Recycling Resources
Nevada County is committed to providing recycling to Residents by working with various local agencies, community services and, Waste Management and Cal Recycle. Programs and Annual events such as the Tire Amnesty, Green Waste Days as well as the Refuel your Fun Campaign, which provides refillable and recyclable propane canisters are a few of the ways the Solid & Hazardous Waste Division is working to keep Nevada County clean .
RECYCLING FACILITIES MAP
Use our Recycling Facilities interactive map to find out where the different recycling facilities are located throughout Nevada County.
Changes to CRV Law
Staring Jan. 1, 2024 there are some changes to the CRV Law, which add new beverages and new wine and liquor containers. Review this flyer for additional information.
The Solid & Hazardous Waste Division has compiled a list of Recycling Programs, Events, and Resources to help the Public with their recycling needs.
Why recycle battery and battery-embedded devices?
Improperly disposed batteries and battery-embedded items can cause fires and injury to waste workers.
How to recycle household batteries
Household are batteries that are easily removed and replaced, such as AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, 9-volt and button-type batteries. Residents who have curbside WM service can place these type of batteries in a Ziploc bag and put it on top of their blue recycle cart on their regular recycle pickup day.
Or they can be dropped off at the following locations:
- Briar Patch Community Market, 290 Sierra College, Grass Valley
- Nevada County Government Center, 950 Maidu Avenue., Nevada City
- Grass Valley Library, 207 Mill Street., Grass Valley
- McCourtney Road Transfer Station, 14741 Wolf Mountain Road, Grass Valley
- Madelyn Helling Library, 980 Helling Way, Nevada City
- Nevada City, City Hall, 317 Broad Street., Nevada City
- North San Juan Transfer Station, 10125 Flume Street., North San Juan
- Washington Transfer Station, 15886 Gaston Road, Washington
How to recycle larger batteries
Larger batteries include: auto batteries, power tool batteries, lawnmower batteries, and more.
To recycle larger batteries, take them to:
- McCourtney Road Transfer Station, 14741 Wolf Mountain Road, Grass Valley
How to recycle battery-embedded devices
Battery-embedded products and gadgets are not designed for consumers to access the battery and require special tools. Examples of battery-embedded devices are: cell phones, computers, garden stake lights, smartwatches, e-cigarettes (vapes), Bluetooth earbuds, cordless vacuums, smart toys, shoes that have lights, and portable power banks. No need to remove the battery, just take the entire device to:
- McCourtney Road Transfer Station, 14741 Wolf Mountain Road, Grass Valley
Carpet and padding recycling program is now found at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station.
- Carpet and padding must be separated and rolled into manageable lengths.
- No area rugs or scraps are accepted.
- Drop off in the Public Receiving Area where trash is normally dropped off.
Wondering what to do with old clothing?
Reuse or recycle used clothing at these locations.
Planet Green Recycle is a free program to recycle your used or old ink cartridges. Every year millions of ink cartridges end up in landfills contributing to the growing issue of plastic waste as most of these cartridges are not biodegradable. Planet Green Recycle offers a free program to recycle four (4) or more printer cartridges. The process is simple. Box up your cartridges, then request a few shipping label at PlanetGreenRecycle.com, attached the label and drop the box at your closed USPS location. Toner cartridges and large format cartridges are not accepted.
Free Mattress Recycling Program
In the State of California, you have several options to dispose of an unwanted mattress.
- Retailer Take Back
- When you buy a new mattress and are having it delivered, ask your retailer about taking your old one back at no additional cost. Learn More
- Bulky Item Programs
- Residents in western unincorporated Nevada County: In January of each calendar year, Waste Management provides to Residential Customers who subscribe to Collection Services one annual transfer station voucher for 2-cubic yards of free disposal of Bulky Waste at the Transfer Station.
- Residents in eastern unincorporated Nevada County: Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal provides curbside collection of Bulky Waste to Residential Customers who subscribe to Collection Services for an additional charge.
- Residents in the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City should inquire with their municipality or with Waste Management about their options.
- Residents in the city of Truckee should inquire with their municipality or with Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal about their options.
- Drop off your mattress at a participating Bye Bye Mattress location
- Nevada County residents can recycle mattresses for free at McCourtney Road Transfer Station in Grass Valley and Eastern Regional Landfill in Truckee. Drop-off limits apply. The Eastern Regional Landfill program is seasonal from May through October. For details and additional options, visit Bye Bye Mattress Recycling for Households.
- Nevada County businesses can learn about options at Bye Bye Mattresses Recycling for Businesses.
About the Bye Bye Mattress Program
In Nevada County, approximately 125 mattresses are discarded each week.
Thanks to this program, 1.5 million mattresses and box springs are diverted from California landfills annually and used to make other useful products like carpet padding, insulation, filters, and mulch. It's also helping our community deter illegal dumping. Bye Bye Mattress is administered by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), a non-profit organization created by the mattress industry and certified by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to develop and manage the California mattress recycling program required by the Used Mattress Recovery & Recycling Act enacted in 2013. The program is funded through an $10.50 recycling fee that is collected when a mattress or box spring is sold in California. To learn more, go to ByeByeMattress.com.
Opting out of Phone Book Delivery and Junk Mail
Many consumers prefer to search online or on their mobile devices for local businesses. For those who no longer wish to receive print directories delivered to their homes, Yellow Pages publishers have developed a simple way for consumers to stop or limit phone book delivery through Yellow Pages Opt-Out.
Refuel Your Fun Campaign - Propane Cylinders
The ReFuel Your Fun (RFYF) Campaign promotes the use of the new refillable 1 lb. propane cylinders and the proper disposal of single-use 1 lb. cylinders. The single-use or disposable 1 lb. cylinders are currently costing local government money to recycle and pose a safety threat to sanitation workers due to their potential to combust when compressed during disposal. Refillable cylinders also save consumers money and hassle! All participating locations can be found on the RFYF website home page or at refuelyourfun.org.
Solar panels can be taken to Recology, 12305 Shale Ridge Road, Auburn, CA 95602. If the panels are in working condition, try contacting www.goodsun.life/ and the panels may be repurposed.
Tire Amnesty Event
There will not be a tire amnesty event for 2025.
For more questions about tire disposal, please reach out to Solid Waste by email or phone: (530) 265-7111.
CalRecycle
Learn more about the organizations that the Solid Waste Division partners with on recycling.
California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) brings together the state's recycling and waste management programs and continues a tradition of environmental stewardship.
Through landmark initiatives like the Integrated Waste Management Act and Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, California works toward a society that uses less, recycles more, and takes resource conservation to higher and higher levels. Our state leads the nation with an approximate 65 percent diversion rate for all materials, and today recycling supports more than 140,000 green jobs in California.
CalRecycle's vision is to inspire and challenge Californians to achieve the highest waste reduction, recycling and reuse goals in the nation. Through innovation and creativity, sound advancements in science and technology, and efficient programs that improve economic vitality and environmental sustainability, we build a stronger California.
For more on our programs, please read the What We Do page, or see our CalRecycle brochure, also available in a Spanish-language version.
- How can my business become a used oil collection center?
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View requirements from Cal Recycle to become a certified used oil collection center in Nevada County.
- What requirements are there concerning organics recycling?
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Learn about mandatory commercial organics recycling including food waste and green waste.
- Where can I find information about waste in general and fluorescent lightbulbs?
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Visit the following links for more information on general waste and recycling