Resources
What can I recycle?
Curbside & Drop-Off Recycling
The following materials are accepted for curbside and drop-off recycling. Tap each option to get more details on how to recycle specific items.
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic jugs (Ex: detergent, cat litter, milk, juice, and coffee containers)
- Plastic tubs (Ex: sour cream, butter, yogurt, cream cheese containers)
- Plastic cups (Ex. Plastic coffee cups, fruit cups, applesauce cups, takeout cups from restaurants)
NOTE: If the lids are also plastic—reattach and recycle together, if the lid is another material—detach and throw away before recycling.
- Cardboard (flattened as much as possible)
- Paper
- Magazines
- Junk mail and envelops (with or without windows)
- Paper cups (do not include the plastic lid)
- Steel Cans
- Aluminum cans
- Metal cups
- Empty aerosol cans with the tips removed (and as long as the can didn’t contain household hazardous waste or spray paint)
- Bottles
- Jars (detach metal lids and recycle separately)
- All colors of glass bottles and jars are accepted and there is no need to remove the labels
- Paper cups (remove plastic lid and throw away)
- Plastic cups (no Solo cups)
- Plastic fruit/applesauce cups
- Aluminum cups
Not for Curbside or Drop-off Recycling
The following materials are not accepted for curbside recycling , but may have a special outlet. Visit our Recycling and Reuse Center tool for more details.
“To-Go” Food Containers
Just because a takeout container has a chasing arrows symbol on it, doesn’t mean it’s recyclable. In fact, despite common misconception, the symbol indicates the type of plastic not that it can be recycled. Currently, there is no outlet that can recycle the type of plastic in food takeout containers, berry containers, or salad containers so these containers are not accepted in curbside recycling or recycling drop-offs.
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are not accepted in the curbside or drop-off recycling programs. Due to the stringent standards for the reselling of this material, manufacturers require plastic bags be clean, dry and in like-new condition to be used in the manufacturing process. Due to the collection and separation process, most material recovery facilities (recycling processors) can not meet manufacturer’s standards. However, many local retailers have established plastic bag recycling programs. We encourage you to seek out these types of opportunities to recycle your plastic bags and films.
Batteries
One of the most common but dangerous items people incorrectly put in the recycling is batteries. No matter if they’re small batteries for household electronics, lithium-ion batteries found in cell phones, tablets, rechargeable tools and toys, or large car batteries, no battery should be put in curbside recycling or a recycling drop-off. Batteries easily cause fires in the recycling trucks and recycling facilities, especially when they’re crushed in compactors.
Bagged Recyclables
Please place your recyclable items loose in the cart or bin. Do not place your recyclables in plastic bags. The only exception is shredded paper, which should be placed in a clear plastic bag. All items should be empty (no need to wash, but please rinse). Labels are ok and do not need to be removed.
Styrofoam and Solo Cups
Disposable cups made of Styrofoam or polystyrene are not accepted in curbside recycling programs. Most colored party cups (i.e., Solo brand cups) are made of polystyrene (#6) and should not be placed in recycling containers. Ceramic and glass cups are also not accepted.
Other Nos
No receipts, plastic bags, cassette tapes, bed sheets, clothing hangers, metal chains, garden hoses, batteries, needles, syringes, electronics, polystyrene foam, EPS (hard, rigid Styrofoam), buckets, car parts, food, yard trimmings, light bulbs, drinking glasses, ceramics, pots and pans, scrap metal, etc.