Residential Recycling

Step 1.Prepare your recyclables:

The preparation steps below will help to ensure your recyclables are correctly processed and not sent to the landfill.

• Bottles, cans, papers, and boxes can all be mixed together in your recycling bin. No need to separate recyclables.
  
  
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  Place items loosely inside your recycle bin (no plastic bags, except for shredded paper). Bagged or compacted materials make it more difficult for workers to separate recyclables at the processing facility
  
  
• Empty out all containers and lightly rinse out bottles and cans before placing them in your recycle bin
  
  
• Never place trash or garbage in your recycle bin.
  
  
• Shredded paper should be placed in tightly sealed, clear plastic bags so it can be identified as recycling, not trash, at the recycling processing facility.
  
  
• Be sure to flatten boxes and remove all foam, plastic bags, and shrink wrap.

Step 2.Know What Is Recyclable:

• Paper & Cardboard – Shipping & moving boxes, paper packaging, cereal & shoe boxes, frozen food boxes, paper egg cartons, milk & juice beverage cartons, paper cups, newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, and paper bags. Tissue & pasta boxes are accepted, but any attached plastic film should be removed before recycling. Shredded paper is accepted for recycling if placed in tightly sealed, clear plastic bags.
  
  
• Plastic Bottles, Tubs & Jugs – Water & soda bottles, milk jugs, detergent & cleaning bottles, lotion & hand-soap bottles, condiment bottles, yogurt & sour cream tubs, plastic food & cat litter buckets (not exceeding 5 gallons). Please ensure that you remove spray nozzles or hand pumps from bottles before placing them in your recycling bin.
  
  
• Metal Cans – All aluminum beverage cans & bottles, steel food cans, popcorn & cookie tins, and empty aerosol cans. Aluminum foil and trays are accepted for recycling if washed and rolled into a ball.
  
  
• Glass Jars & Bottles – All food & beverage glass containers, baby food jars, and olive oil bottles.

Not accepted in recycle bins: Plastic bags (of any kind), plastic wrapping, batteries, hoses, coat hangers, clothing, fabric, diapers, medical waste, scrap metal, car parts, pots, pans, plant & garden waste, food waste, CDs, cassettes, or video tapes.

Step 3.Set out recycle bins on your collection day:

• For residential homes with curbside collection services, be sure to place your recycling bin out by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Late set-outs can throw off the entire route and cause delays for other neighborhoods.
  
  
• Place your bin as close to the edge of the street as possible without blocking sidewalks, driveways, or creating traffic hazards. The closer containers are to the curb, the less distance crews must travel — which helps reduce the risk of slips, especially in winter. Remember - close to the street, but not in the street.
  
  
• Place your recyclables loose in your bin. Unlike trash, recyclables should not be placed in bags. Plastic bags aren’t recyclable through curbside programs and can jam up sorting equipment at recycling facilities.
  
  

• Recycle Bins should not be placed curbside earlier than noon on the day before your scheduled service day and must be removed by 11 p.m. on that day. On non-collection days, all recycling bins should be hidden from public view by storing them inside a garage or in an inconspicuous place behind or beside your residence.

• Check with your waste hauler for the best ways to prevent spillage on high-wind days. Options might include stacking flattened cardboard boxes tightly inside at the top of your cart with the lid closed, keeping your cart closer to your house, or securing the lid closed with a bungee cord.