The staff are completely racist and extremely rude. They change the rules depending on your skin color-even though you did absolutely nothing wrong. It was only because they personally didn’t like you. For whoever want to recycle bottles and do something good for the environment. PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE. These people clearly do not appreciate their jobs. In fact, they have their jobs because of people like us bringing in bottles. I truly hope the staff can learn to treat everyone equally and with respect.
The best place for recycling. Great employees with helping attitude. You might hear a shout from time to time for warning you not to drop some wrong item but all in good intention. I recommend donations to them for appreciation of what they do.
I’ve used this recycling center several times for different types of waste, including paper, plastic, and even old furniture. Every time, the staff is professional and helpful, making the entire process smooth. The center is well-organized and clean, making it easy to sort and drop off materials. What really sets them apart is their customer-focused approach, including affordable rates and fast service. I’ve always felt that my items are being handled responsibly. This place is a game-changer for anyone looking to recycle efficiently.
I brought a collection of used electronics, including a couple of old laptops and phones, to this recycling center. The process was seamless—staff greeted me with a smile, took care of all the details, and made sure my items were responsibly recycled. Their service was fast and thorough, and the prices for recycling were incredibly fair. I’m happy to know that my electronic waste is being disposed of in an eco-friendly way. Excellent service and value for anyone looking to responsibly recycle their tech!
I've taken a few men to this recycling center and it seemed very organized, dumping cans and exiting car ran smoothly. Months later my neighbor asked me if I could bring her cans and plastic in and she would pay me with a gift. I told her sure, and walked to her backyard to pick up three large bags. Drove to the can center and things appeared the same, smooth operation. The problem was that I needed help, I have a severe arthritic hips, which is noticeable once I get out the car. Fortunately a man dressed in black saw me and told me to drive up and ask someone to help you. Well I did, but first I noticed people putting recycle in garbage cans so I thought that was the process. Hell, I can a least do that but pulling the cans to the conveyer belt was the problem. So I got the attention of a man in a construction jacket and he told me wait a minute. When he came back I asked him if he could pull the cans to the belt. He started yelling telling me, " I'm not here to help you have to pull your own cans", while pointing at a sign saying, ' your responsible for handling your cans and bottles'. So I told him that a young man had told me to ask some one for help, and he kept pointing at the sign. His coworker standing next to him said I'll do it. She was very nice and helped me, while he continued to point to the sign. Then the man in black appeared and I to the angry worker, "this was the man who told me to ask for help". Then I realized he was the supervisor and told the angry man, "you see he can hardly walk!!". After all that the supervisor told him to give me the glass bottle that was over to the side. I whispered to him,"I didn't have any glass. He said, " don't worry about it". Bad customer service was corrected by adding 10.00 to my receipt. Cashed out with 57.00. I didn't know what was wrong with the gentleman at that time, but the problem was solved immediately. I gave this company 2 stars for MY experience. Overall the company seemed to run smooth and I feel reviews can be higher. My neighbor gave me 20.00 and my gift was a jar of pickles.
I weighed it at home and matched closely. I didn't know you had to leave labels on the bottles/cans indicating CRV, so lost a few bottles that way.
Get there early? I was lined up to the corner at 10am on the weekend and it took about an hour and by the time we left it was way up the other block. You'll end up with normal 2 bag people and someone with 8 bags that takes forever.
The people running the aluminum and plastic sorting machines must be schizophrenic. The first time I came there,they acted like I didn't understand the difference between a metal and plastic.
Furthermore, they rush everyone in and out. Why is this schizophrenic giving me a hard time even though I presorted my buy back material?
After you've dumped your material into the sorting conveyor they hand you a receipt. But for first timers you wouldn't know what to do with it. Well, you take it to the shack with a small window and after signing paperwork, you get a printed check that can only be cashed at a bank clear across to the next town. Whatever, we do what we have to. I just wish these people were a little more...well like people instead of robots. It never hurts to smile and make eye contact. After all, you are doing the city a favor by cleaning up loose bottles and aluminum or glass.
Happy recycling. BTW, if you don't have a scale and want to know your items worth, about 25 aluminum cans equals a pound and about 24 of the 16oz water bottles equals a pound of plastic.
There are some time zone when you might have to wait for a really long time. Line of people coming by car or by walk may mix in the middle and you might be cut in line.
The staff let you put your recycling stuffs in to the bin, even the person in front of me hadn't finished yet. Later you might find out that the receipt were mixed with the person in front of or behind you.
At first there were no employees and no signage so I got in a line of cars. Turns out that was for buyback only. I pulled up next to some bins but none applied so I took a lap around the block looking for a better entrance. When I came back someone was there and told me they didn't take electronics* and just yelled at me to leave, but I had other things as well. The bay labeled batteries doesn’t actually have anywhere to leave batteries. How are you even supposed to use this facility?
*They website says they don't take electronics but has a link to a place that does: and guess what it's the same address. Fits the whole confusing experience. There is another place nearby that does actually accept them.
A good place to recycle. All the employees were helpful to me. The process was fast. But, the map is confusing, it took me by the other side of the place.
Decent place but it can be cleaner honestly! it’s a place to recycle why not make it more enjoyable so more people will recycle all you see is flying garbage and recycling material everywhere that flies out on the streets. I wish there was more staff members whose job would be cleaning the establishment.
Easy place to go recycle! If you already have your cans, plastics ans glass pre sorted you can automatically just wait in the drive thru line and be serviced right away.
They accept small household batteries AND CAR AND MARINE BATTERIES and florescent bulbs. For these, don't wait in the long commercial line of trucks. Drive right past those on Second St to the household RECYCLING entrance (very close to Gilman) and once in the gate immediately turn left you'll see the battery and bulb drop off ahead. Any questions just ask the friendly staff. :)
You can drive right up to the weight machine if you have all of your recyclables separated. They are specific with the separation (the water and soda can be together but the Juice bottles separated or large water bottles). If it's your first time, you should call or look up what is expected.
There was a line of cars to get in. It moved rather quickly. The guy working the gate was extremely helpful. He directed patrons quickly and efficiently. We got in and out in just a few minutes.
Berkeley Recycling Center has been a lifesaver for my wife and I,we believe in recycling but due to the pandemic we found that the recycling place we go to on High street and the one on 105th Ave weren't accepting recycle due to covid. I'll be glad when they reopen because they're closer but until further notice I'll be going to Berkeley. Oh yeah,the prices are better than the smaller recycle places.
Pro tip - if you're just doing house hold recycling, it's before the waste drop off. Don't get fooled by ling lines that wrap around the block - pull up and pull through the line for waste (usually can tell it's trucks with big tarps covering large loads) into the recycling part.
The man there was not patient and unfriendly. The lady that spelled him was much nicer. They need signs explaining the different plastics. I am here from out of town, so I was unsure what he was talking about. A little patience and a smile would have gone a long ways!
Busy but fair it seemed certain regular customers have their own agenda for being served and the rest of us had to wait or they would help the workers to speed you up, need patience when coming here, customers who are regular have seem to have priviledges..(Bezerkley).
Every time I have gone to this facility I have been treated with the highest care and respect. The employees make me feel like they are happy to have me visit. I am politely addressed and attended to. The process for successfully completing my task is easy to follow and their price per pound seems to be fair and honest. Thank you Berkeley Recycling Center for a job well done.
10/03/20 1:41 pm ( view this sell from your your camera)
I crushed all my cans and weigh it before going to sell them. I first went to National recycling at 14th street, their weigh was accurate 100 lbs for 4 bags. When I went to Berkeley recycle, I even brought one extra white cabbage back with me just incase. After weighing all my four 30 lbs bag and one cabbage bag all crushed down all I received $124.60 (76lbs) instead of 100 lbs ($165)or even more. First the boy with the brown guy at the weigh station did not wait to reset the machine and was busy pouring out cans while the black guy was waiting for the pickup driver to drop bin to finished dropping the rest of my plastic bottles. (Weighed ok)
I then asked myself.
1, I weigh all bags (25 each)before this journey.
2, I was not even ask to see it before othering me to move car forward.
3, I'm still not happy as am writing this
4, I know how much I suffered, time and energy spent out there, going from street to street, smelling rubbish.
5, You people should consider this and give me back my balance or I will do something about this.
It helps to prepare your recyclables at home before you arrive! The buy-back line gets backed up but if you are ready and have your cans/bottles already separated, they do a great job getting you through & on your way!
Helpful and efficient. My first time there, recommend to check their website for item preparation and buy back rates. Plastic bottles have to have lids removed and glass has to be separated by color...
I've always gotten help the work is a very helpful I like the place is clean as nice everybody's helpful I like that my baby had to use the bathroom real bad one time and employees rushed her in she's he's 8 years old didn't have no problem with it didn't tell her go outside or anyting I really appreciated that I will always be a patriot of their business
There are some good employees and three rude employees. There's been acouple of times that I have gelled out and confronted by this bad employees for no reason whatsoever. I wish the owner will fire them as they are a cancer to any business. Also there are a lot of homeless walking all over the place, so be careful not to hit one of them. If you need a good recycling center go to the one in Richmond. 101 Pittsbury ave. people are nice there and never have any problems.
This place is really great. Someone stole our bins so we couldn't recycle anything and I ended up having to go here for a month or so while the city sorted it out. The people who work here are helpful, and I never had any trouble.
I still go sometimes if I have something that's too big to fit into one of the bits at our apartment, as it's easier to just drive over than cram something into the bin.
Website
