We start with the responsible agency
City collection agencies and official program operators establish the local instructions. We read those sources, record the relevant service area, and write a short explanation in our own words.
We do not assume municipal writing, photographs, or branding are in the public domain. Our source register records access and rights information. An unconfirmed license remains unconfirmed.
A rule includes its conditions
An item name alone may not be enough. We check material, chemistry, condition, household or business use, building type, service, and quantity when they can change the answer. AA is a battery size; it does not prove what chemistry is inside.
Official exceptions stay beside the instruction. A more specific rule replaces a general rule only when that relationship is recorded explicitly. A newer date alone does not settle a conflict.
Three labels, with distinct meanings
- Confirmed for these conditions
- Your answers match a reviewed rule for the selected service. Read the conditions and preparation instructions too.
- More information needed
- A missing answer can change the route. We ask for that detail rather than choosing it for you.
- Not verified
- Coverage is missing, rules conflict, or the available rule calls for agency confirmation. This is not permission to use an ordinary bin.
Dates mean different things
Retrieved is when a source was accessed. Reviewed is when its instruction or field received editorial review. Effective is when the source says a rule takes effect, when known. One date does not substitute for another.
The editorial review targets are about 90 days for rules and 30 days for location acceptance, fees, and hours. Events need a check before their date. These are maintenance targets, not a promise of daily monitoring. Overdue records are labeled.
Changes need an editorial decision
- Fetch a public source where access is permitted.
- Validate the incoming structure and inspect the change.
- Check the effect on conditions, instructions, and conflicting rules.
- Approve the edited record separately, then publish a new versioned snapshot.
A fetch does not update a live rule by itself. A failed request does not erase the previous snapshot. Blocked sources and other coverage limits are reported openly.
Safety questions stay visible
A damaged battery or an unidentified chemical does not quietly fall through to a normal disposal route. When a safe procedure for that condition is not established, the guide directs you to the official agency instructions. We do not invent disassembly, mixing, neutralization, or transport procedures.