WASTE AND RECYCLING
TASK FORCE
Even the Record Review had good things to say about single-stream recycling, on June 20, 2014.
Download a reprint PDF.
What material can you recycle in single-stream?
All containers should be empty of food or liquid. They do not need to be washed. Food containers should be rinsed. Items like pizza boxes are recyclable but must be free of food. Paper products such as napkins or towels must not be soiled. Containers do not need to be crushed. No Styrofoam of any kind. Click to download a printable PDF of this handy list.
Metal
- Aerosal spray cans (must be empty)
- Aluminum cans
- Aluminum foil
- Caps and lids from bottles, jars and cans
- Paint cans (must be empty or dry)
- Pie pans, trays, to-go containers
- Scrap metal (any size as long as it fits in bin)
- Steel (tin) cans
- Wire hangers (no need to remove paper or cardboard)
Paper
Clean, dry and unsoiled.
- Address labels and stickers
- Bags
- All boxes, paperboard, waxed board (like cereal or tissue boxes)
- Corrugated cardboard boxes
- Cereal boxes (no need to remove plastic liner)
- Computer and office paper, all kinds
- Egg cartons (no Styrofoam)
- Envelopes (clear windows OK)
- Juice or milk containers, with plastic caps and rings
- Mail, junk mail, magazines, catalogs
- Microwavable popcorn or other bags
- Newspapers
- Office paper, file folders
- Packing or craft paper
- Phone books
- Sticky notes
- Shredded paper (must be placed in sealed bag of any kind)
- Wrapping paper
- Paper plates, plastic coated
Plastic
All plastics can be recycled. There is no need to check the number on the plastic.
- Antifreeze bottles
- Bags — all plastic bags and wrapping of any kind: grocery store bags, garment bags, newspaper bags, small bags, zip-lock bags, chips bags, candy bags, popcorn bags
- Bottles and caps
- Boat wrap
- Bubble wrap
- Buckets (metal handle OK)
- CDs, DVDs, CD-ROMs and cases
- Cups, lids and plates (no Styrofoam)
- Containers, clamshells and to-go packaging
- Corks — plastic only, not those made of cork
- Garden/flower pots and trays
- Hazardous chemical containers (only if empty)
- Jugs
- Laundry detergent bottles
- Liners for boxes, like cereal boxes
- Medicine bottles (only if empty)
- Molded plastic packaging
- Motor oil bottles (only if empty)
- Rigid Plastics (like Little Tykes Toys)
- Six-pack holders
- Shrink wrap and all other plastic wrappings
- Toys (no electronics, metal or batteries)
- Tubs, trays and lids (like yogurt containers and Tupperware)
- Utensils
- Wrappers: candy, chocolate chip, raisin, popcorn etc. — all plastic wrapper or lining bags
Glass
Must be empty, light rinse only. No Pyrex, ceramics or mirrors.
- Bottles and jars (metal caps and lids are OK)
- Drinking cups
- Jars
- Plates and vases
- Window panes
Unacceptable Recycling Materials – for information on how to dispose of these items visit our Recyclopedia
- Batteries
- Ceramic dishware
- Clothing, linens and rags
- Construction debris
- Electronics
- Food scraps
- Hazardous materials or chemicals
- Ink or toner cartridges
- Light bulbs: incandescent, fluorescent and LEDs
- Major appliances
- Medical waste or medicines
- Mirrors
- Pyrex
- Soiled paper napkins, tissues, towels
- Styrofoam
- Trash
- Tiles
- Tires
- Wood
- Yard waste, leaves, trimmings
For information on how to dispose of these items safely and legally, visit our Recyclopedia.
