What Should Go in Your Recycling Cart and What Shouldn’t
A lot of people might avoid recycling simply because of the confusion around what can and cannot be recycled. If this is you, we are here to make recycling simpler for you. Once you know what can and cannot be recycled by our sorting machinery, recycling will become an easy habit. And if it helps, you can print out this list and have it taped above your carts. That way, you never have to forget how to do recycling right.
GOES IN YOUR RECYCLING CART
1. Empty plastic bottles and jugs – The most common #1 plastic bottles, jugs, and containers (clamshell to-go containers, water and soda bottles, salad dressing and oil bottles, plastic peanut butter jars, dishwasher and laundry detergent jugs, and more). Also #7 portable plastic beverage bottles, and #5 plastic tubs (yogurt, butter, and sour cream containers).
2. Empty and rinsed aluminum, steel, and tin cans – Tuna cans, cans of
vegetables and fruits, cans of beans, soup cans, soda cans, as well as dog and cat food cans.
3. Paper products and cardboard – Paper products and cardboard! Anything from newspaper, junk mail and envelopes, empty food and drink cartons, cereal boxes (remove the plastic liner), pizza boxes (only the not greasy parts), inner roll of toilet paper and paper towels, tissue boxes, paperback books, office paper, and cardboard boxes (make sure to flatten boxes to fit inside your cart).
4. Empty glass bottles and jars that are clear, brown, or green – Glass beverage and alcohol bottles, mason jars, and glass food jars like pasta sauces, jams and honey, oils and vinegar, spices, etc.
DOES NOT BELONG IN YOUR CART
1. NO plastic bags of any kind – Plastic bags – shopping bags, grocery bags, produce bags, trash bags, plastic cereal box liners, bubble wrap and Styrofoam, bread bags, and chip bags.
2. NO food scraps or yard waste – Food scraps and yard waste is a no. If it rots or spoils, it does not belong in your cart. Either place in the trash, or try composting your fruits, vegetables, tea leaves and coffee grounds, and eggshells.
3. NO tanglers – Anything you can wrap around your arm will tangle up the recycling machine and shut it down. This includes all clothing items, wires, hoses, ropes, clothes hangers, and electronics.
4. NO hazardous waste – Household waste (fertilizer, pesticides, antifreeze, gasoline or oil), electronic waste, batteries, florescent bulbs, aerosol cans, paint cans, butane and propane tanks, fire extinguishers.
Make sure to utilize your local Green Stations for items that cannot go in your recycling cart. Even if you cannot recycle certain items at home, you might be able to recycle them at a Green Station. Please visit MyDoRight.com for Green Station locations, hours, and a full list of accepted items.