The Camp Pendleton Recycling program promotes environmental stewardship to meet Federal and State waste diversion mandates.

Teamwork from all residents, tenants, units, and commands at Camp Pendleton is making an important contribution towards showing those in surrounding communities that Camp Pendleton cares about the environment.

Camp Pendleton recycles post-consumer materials to preserve our precious and limited natural resources.
Camp Pendleton recycles to support quality of life improvements in safety, health, energy conservation, and pollution abatement programs.
Camp Pendleton recycles to make a difference.

Did you know that money generated by the Camp Pendleton recycling program goes right back into our military community?

Here are just a few things that have been purchased…

  • Specialized Wheelchairs for Beaches
  • Fire rings for beaches
  • Book-mobile & books for base libraries
  • Two 20-passenger busses
  • Picnic pavilions, tables, and grills
  • Cabanas & shade structures
  • Fitness equipment for base gyms
  • Uniforms & equipment for Youth Sports
  • Energy-saving utility vehicles
  • Football helmets/pads for Intramurals
  • Ice machines
  • Bleachers for athletic fields
  • Furniture for Single Marine Program
  • Tricycles/Scooters/Helmets for CDCs
  • Mobile rock-climbing wall
  • Safety materials
  • Motorcycle training simulators
  • Driving simulators
  • Youth & Teen Center rec equipment
  • SOI crosswalk safety lighting
  • Bus stop improvements
  • & more!

Camp Pendleton Recycling Center can help you keep recyclables out of the trash. Search the recycle and disposal listing to safely and responsibly dispose of old or unwanted items.

  • Ammunition, Explosives & Fireworks
  • Appliances (large and small)
  • Autos & Automobile Products (no liquids)
  • Baby Equipment
  • Bicycle Tubes
  • Boat Shrink Wrap
  • Books
  • Cartons – Wood and Cardboard
  • Cell Phones
  • Cleaning Products
  • Computers, TVs & Electronics
  • Cooking Oil
  • Cork
  • Eyeglasses
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Fishing Line
  • Foam & Packaging Materials
  • Fuel Tanks – Empty ONLY, CA Dry
  • Furniture & Metal Doors
  • Glass Bottles & Jars
  • Hangers
  • Hearing Aids
  • Helium Tanks
  • Ink Jet Cartridges
  • Junk Mail
  • Medical Equipment & Supplies
  • Metal Cans
  • Moving Boxes
  • Pallets & Wood
  • Paper Shredding
  • Paper, Paperboard, Magazines, and Cardboard
  • Phone Books
  • Plastics
  • Pots & Pans
  • Propane Tanks – Empty ONLY
  • Refrigerators
  • Scrap Metals
  • Smoke Detectors
  • Sporting Goods & Equipment
  • Washers and Dryers

Dispose of old medications properly by taking them to the Navy Hospital on base.

Recycling is a component of Camp Pendleton’s solid waste management program. Its primary function is to reduce the volume of waste disposed into the base landfills and meet federal, state, and local requirements.

Family Housing

  • All homes are provided with recycling bins for curbside collection.
  • Aluminum & metal cans, plastic & glass bottles, jugs, and jars can be commingled and placed into the same container.
  • Newspaper, chipboard, cereal boxes, paper, cardboard, and junk mail should be placed in the same container.
  • Excess recyclables should be placed into clear plastic bags and placed next to the recycling bins.
  • Trash should never be placed in recycling bins.
  • Plastic grocery bags should be returned to the commissary or local grocery store.
  • Call your housing office to pick up bulky items, such as furniture, washers, and dryers.
  • Dumping trash and bulky items is illegal.
  • Scavenging, theft of recyclables from residential curbside bins is illegal and reduces the money returned to the base for projects that benefits everyone.

BEQ Residents

  • Locate the recycling bins that were provided to your building.
  • If recycling bins are not available, contact the barracks officer and/or the S-4 officer.
  • Deposit all cardboard boxes (flatten) into the nearest white dumpster or roll-off, labeled "cardboard".
  • Deposit newspapers and other types of paper, including “junk mail” in Blue containers labeled "paper only".
  • Deposit all bottles and cans (plastic, metal, glass, aluminum) into containers labeled "bottles and cans".
  • If containers are full, call 725-4892 for pickup.
  • E-Waste and Universal Waste must be delivered to the 13 Area or the 52 Area Recycling Centers, during operating hours.
  • Drop sites for 24/7 recycling are located at each of the Base Recycling Centers listed below.
    • 13 Area, BLDG 13193 (across from the MCCS Auto Hobby Shop).
      • Mon-Thu 9am-2pm
    • 22 Area, BLDG 22054, (1 ½ blocks from DRMO).
      • Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm
    • 52 Area, BLDG 520189 (behind & below the Fire Station).
      • Mon-Thu 9am-2pm
  • Scavenging (theft of recyclables) hurts our entire community and reduces the amount of money used for funding projects that support our Marines, Sailors, and families.

Area Commanders

  • Appoint a Recycling Coordinator to work with the Base Recycling Manager.
  • Send a representative to the quarterly recycling program meetings.
  • Select staging areas and/or collection points to expedite the handling of recyclables.
  • Identify recyclable waste streams and request containers to accommodate the materials.
  • Ensure that all paper turned in for recycling meets the Privacy Act requirement.
  • Coordinate a collection/pick-up date from the designated staging areas with the Recycling Manager, 725-4982.

Unit Commanders and S-4 Officers

  • Send a representative to the quarterly recycling program meetings.
  • Identify recyclable waste streams and coordinate with the Recycling Manager regarding container needs.
  • Appoint personnel as points of contact for recyclable material collection.
  • Ensure that all paper turned in for recycling meets the Privacy Act requirement.
  • Ensure that all Marines and Sailors comply with Base Order 6280.5B.

Where can I recycle electronic and other forms of hazardous waste?

There are a couple of options.

If it's your personal property and it's still usable, you can donate it to a charitable organization or an off-base reseller. Residents of Lincoln & Hunt Housing are to go to their respective housing departments to turn in Electronic and Hazardous Waste Materials. Hazardous waste turn-in events occur off-base in cities surrounding Camp Pendleton throughout the month. You can find dates and times for these events by googling hazardous waste recycling. Contact your Base Housing Management office for turn-in procedures and programs that apply to your neighborhood.

What materials can we recycle?

Cardboard, paper, aluminum, plastic bottles and cans, glass bottles and jars, and scrap metals. This includes detergent and shampoo bottles, metal food cans, and cereal/food boxes.

Where can I drop off my recyclable materials?

You can drop your materials off at any one of three recycling centers in 13 Area, 22 Area, and 52 Area during operating hours. For after-hours drop-off: Electronic or household hazardous waste is not permitted at after-hours drop-off sites!

Who do I call when I need assistance or have a question?

Call the Base Recycling Manager at (760) 212-3934.

Who is required to recycle at Camp Pendleton?

Everyone! Base Order MCIWEST-MCB CAMPENO 6280.1 requires all MCB Camp Pendleton occupants to recycle.

Can someone other than Camp Pendleton Recycling staff or Waste Management remove recyclables from bins and containers?

No. Scavenging is illegal and should be reported to PMO or the Recycling Manager.

Do you give money back for bottles and cans?

No. We are not a redemption center. All recyclables received are considered donated and the revenue obtained from sales is returned to the Base Recycling Program. After paying for the recycling program's overhead, the remainder pays for morale, welfare, and recreation projects.

Can we use plastic bags?

No. All bags used for holding recyclables must be transparent.

I live in family housing and I need recycling bins. Who can I call?

Please call your housing management office.

Do I have to wash out empty bottles, jars, and cans?

No, but it is recommended, so to reduce flies, vermin, and odors.

Do I need to remove the label from bottles, jars, and cans?

No. Removing the label is no longer required.

Do you accept shredded paper?

Yes, as long as it is placed into clear plastic bags.

Do you accept styrofoam?

Yes. We accept all packaging material, especially the kind that comes with televisions and computers.

Items that can be placed in the recycling containers work spaces

  • Blue 90-Gallon Bins: ONLY non-PII paper
  • Brown 90-Gallon Bins: Recyclables (aluminum cans, glass drinking bottles, plastic bottles)
  • Dual Metal Frames: Non-PII paper

Housing

  • Recycling Containers: cardboard, aluminum cans, metal cans, glass, plastic, miscellaneous plastic, shrink wrap, bubble wrap, polystyrene

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters

  • Small Red Container: aluminum cans, glass drinking bottles, plastic bottles
  • Small Red Container: Non-PII paper
  • Three-Compartment Containers: Please place all your recyclables and non-PII materials into these three-compartment containers

Gas Stations

  • Blue 90-Gallon Bins: aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, and non-PII paper

Items that are not to be placed in the recycling containers work spaces

  • Blue 90-Gallon Bins: No PII paper, trash, aluminum cans, glass drinking bottles, or plastic bottles. Paper only.
  • Brown 90-Gallon Bins: No trash, electronics, monitors, CPU, radios, TVs, LCDs, cable wires, computers, phones, laptops, vacuums, VCRs, CD players, XBox, Nintendo, electronic toys, hair dryers, etc.
  • Plastic Racks Frames: Non-PII paper, trash, or recyclables (aluminum cans, glass drinking bottles, plastic bottles)

Housing

  • Recycling Bins: trash, food waste, dirt, paper towels, ceramics, baby diapers, dog poop, mirrors, furniture or motor vehicles, green waste, mulch, bushes, logs, etc.
  • Hazardous Material: paint, glass cleaner, car oil, cooking oil, car batteries, household batteries, lightbulbs, expired fuel, car tires, etc.
  • Cloths: textiles, shoes, shirts, pants, sweaters, jackets, etc. Uniforms should be turned in to the thrift store by Lake O’Neill.
  • Food: food should be placed in trash containers. If in a recyclable container, please empty and put in recycling bins.)
  • Dead Animals: Contact Animal Control (760) 725-8120
  • Microwaves/Refrigerators: Base Housing contact your Housing Managers to turn in electronics and tires, they are considered hazardous materials.

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters

  • Small Red Containers not on the listed items: trash
  • Three Compartment Container near dumpsters: For non-PII paper, electronics, monitors, CPU, radios, TVs, LCDs, cable wires, computers, phones, laptops, vacuums, VCRs, CD players, XBox, Nintendo, electronic toys, hair dryers, etc.

Gas Stations

  • Blue 90-Gallon Bins: No trash, electronics, monitors, CPUs, radios, TVs, LCDs, cable wires, computers, phones, laptops, vacuums, VCRs, CD players, XBox, Nintendo, electronic toys, hair dryers, hazardous material, paint, glass cleaner, car oil, cooking oil, car batteries, household batteries, lightbulbs, expired fuel, car tired, etc.
  • Cloths: textiles, shoes, shirts, pants, sweaters, jackets, uniforms, etc. should be turned in to the thrift store by Lake O’Neill
  • Food: Food should be placed in trash containers. If in a recyclable container, please empty and put in recycling bins
  • Dead Animals: Contact Animal Control (760) 725-8120
  • Microwaves: Base Housing contact your Housing Managers to turn in refrigerators, electronics, and tires, they are considered hazardous materials.
Contact Information and Resources
Recycling Center

22 Area: 7607254982

Hours of operation:

22 Area
BLDG 22054

Mon-Thu 7am-2pm
Fri 7am-1pm


52 Area
BLDG 520189

Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
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