Every bag of trash that leaves Big Bear Valley matters. Sorting your waste the right way helps recycle more, keeps trash out of landfills, and protects our mountains and lakes.

The good news is that a few easy habits can really help cut down on waste.

The blue recycling cart makes it easy to recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, and metal cans. Here are some tips to help you recycle right:

• Rinse out food containers before putting them in the recycling cart. They don’t have to be spotless, just mostly free of food.
• Flatten cardboard boxes to save space and make room for other recyclables.
• Keep plastic bags out of the blue cart because they can get tangled in the sorting machines and cause problems.

It’s easy to make mistakes with items that look recyclable but aren’t accepted in curbside pickup. Don’t put things like garden hoses, electronics, batteries, or styrofoam in your blue cart. If you’re not sure, check our Recycling Guide or call us at (909) 866-3942.

Big Bear Disposal, Inc. gives you more ways to sort your waste than most places in Southern California:

• You can take recyclables, green waste, e-waste, and universal waste to Clean Bear Site #1.
• The Buy-Back Center at 41970 Garstin Drive pays cash for CRV-eligible containers like aluminum, glass, and plastic.
• All customers can get a free green waste cart for yard waste and trimmings.

When everyone in the community sorts their waste correctly, it really makes a difference. Cleaner recycling means more gets reused, wildlife stays safer, and Big Bear Lake remains the beautiful place we all love.

Not sure what to do with something? We’re here to help. Call us at (909) 866-3942 or visit our sustainability page for guides, schedules, and tips.