Recology San Francisco Public Tour

1. About Recology and the programs offered in San Francisco.

2. How to properly sort items with our three-bin system.

3. Why reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting are more than just buzzwords.

4. How you can make a difference every day to conserve natural resources, save money, and contribute to a healthier planet.

1. Initial processing of curbside bin material and special recycling programs.

2. Studios and in-progress work of current artists-in-residence.

3. The blue bin sorting process at Recycle Central at Pier 96.

• 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.

• Attendees must wear closed-toe, comfortable walking shoes (no sandals).

• 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.

• 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.

• Tours involve loud noises, strong smells, and dust.

• Tours take approximately 2.5 hours to complete. At minimum, visitors must be able to complete the entire two-hour tour of the Transfer Station.

• Tours may be canceled or modified for rain.

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. If you are with a business located outside of San Francisco, or have a party of greater than five, please feel free to sign up on this Public Tour.

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.

Private tours and presentations may be offered for special interest groups, or for large groups with a minimum of 16 people. They are reserved on a first come, first served basis and are dependent upon availability. Please call 628.224.0938 for more information.

Are there minimum age requirements to enter the event?

Tour participants must be at least nine years old. 

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Only street parking is available at the Transfer Station, but it is generally plentiful. Please do not park in the employee parking lots located on the facility.

A visitor parking lot is available at Recycle Central. Due to the location of Pier 96, taxis (Uber and Lyft included) and bikes are not allowed, and there is no public transit available. 

What should I bring into the event?

Closed-toe shoes (tennis shoes, sneakers, or boots), a reusable water bottle, and layers for the outdoor portion of the tour.

May I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please email Ailsa Harju at [email protected] with any questions.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No. Just check in on one of our iPads upon arrival. 

Host or Publisher Recology Artist in Residence and Educational Tours