Recology San Francisco Public Tour (not for artist applicants)

Have you ever wondered what happens to the items you put in the blue, green, or landfill bins in San Francisco? Join a Recology Public Tour to become an expert on why we sort and how to do it properly.

On this tour, you will learn:

• About Recology and the programs offered in San Francisco.
• How to properly sort items with our three-bin system.
• How you can make a difference every day to conserve natural resources, save money, and contribute to a healthier planet.

A few things you will see are:

• Initial processing of curbside bin material and special recycling programs.
• Studios and in-progress work of current artists-in-residence.
• The blue bin sorting process in Recycle Central at Pier 96.

Tour Requirements (please read carefully):

• Everyone must sign a release of liability form upon arrival. Anyone under 18 years of age must have a waiver signed by their legal parent or guardian.
• For safety reasons, children under nine years of age are not allowed on tours.
• To protect visitors from glass, rocks, and other materials, all guests must wear pants and closed-toe shoes. Sturdy shoes such as boots with thick soles are preferred. Guests with out proper attire will not be allowed on the tour.

• To tour Recycle Central you must be able to provide your own car transportation between our two facilities. Due to the location of Pier 96, taxis (Uber and Lyft included) and bikes are not allowed, and there is no public transit available. If attending with a group, carpooling is appreciated and encouraged. If you are unable to provide your own transportation between the two sites, you may opt to tour only the Transfer Station (the first portion of the tour), which will last about 2 hours.
• Proper safety equipment (including hard hats, vests, and/or safety glasses) must be worn at all times. Recology will provide safety equipment.
• Tours are intended for groups of 10 or less from any individual organization.

Please note:

• This tour will NOT fulfill the application requirement for artists interested in applying to the residency program. Artists must attend an Artist in Residence Program Tour.
• Tours include a walk up three long flights of stairs and walking on uneven surfaces and hills.
• Certain areas of the facility may be extremely slippery and difficult to walk due to the presence of glass, rocks, and uneven or difficult terrain.
• Tours involve loud noises, strong smells, and dust.
• Tours take approximately 2.5 hours to complete. At minimum, visitors must be able to walk the entire two-hour tour of the Transfer Station.
• In the event of rain, tours will be cancelled.

Commercial Businesses in San Francisco:

Please call 415-330-1300 to learn about tours offered specifically for commercial businesses in San Francisco including office buildings, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, shopping centers, and large commercial and residential properties.

School Field Trips:

Tours for San Francisco schools are scheduled through the San Francisco Department of the Environment. Please note: we are unable to accommodate schools from outside of San Francisco at this time. Please refer to Stop Waste in Oakland or ReThink Waste in San Carlos.