Can I recycle floor mats?

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It’s a double dose of our recycling feature today, looking at the often confusing and contradictory recycling policies of Southern California cities. Case in point: Plastic floor mats -- the kind often used under desk chairs at home or at work -- usually are made from polypropylene or flexible PVC tiles, which can be recycled in Los Angeles’ blue bins. Large mats, however, can block the sorting screens at the recycling facilities. If the mats can be safely cut into pieces that fit easily into the blue bin, they can be recycled. Mats that cannot go in the blue bin and that are too damaged for donation can be picked up free of charge through bulky-item pickup by dialing 3-1-1, but they will not be recycled.

Because policies and recommendations can vary from city to city, each week we ask a sampling of officials from various municipalities to weigh in. Can you recycle plastic floor mats in ...

Culver City: No.

Glendale: Yes, if cut to fit inside recycling bin.

Long Beach: No.

Los Angeles: Yes, if mats are polypropylene or flexible PVC and if pieces are small enough to fit into the blue bin.

Manhattan Beach: Yes, if they are entirely plastic.

Riverside: Yes.

Santa Barbara: Yes, if plastic Nos. 1, 2, 4 or 5.

Santa Monica: No.

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The archive: Can I Recycle ... ?

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