Single Stream Recycling

What material can you recycle in single-stream?

All containers should be empty of food or liquid. Food containers should be rinsed.
Caps or lids should be put back on containers after rinsing.
Ideally, your recycling is placed clean and loose in your recycling toter. A liner is not necessary and is not recyclable so if you use a bag to line your indoor receptacle it is best to dump recyclables out of the bag into the outside bin and re-use the bag to line your indoor recycling or trash bin.
Containers don’t need to be crushed.
No Styrofoam of any kind.

Acceptable Recycling Materials

Paper

Clean, dry, and unsoiled.

Paper Bags

All boxes, paperboard, waxed board (like cereal or tissue boxes)

Corrugated cardboard boxes

Cereal boxes

Computer and office paper, all kinds

Egg cartons (no Styrofoam)

Envelopes (transparent windows OK)

Juice or milk containers, with plastic caps and rings

Mail, magazines, catalogs

Newspapers

Office paper, file folders

Packing or craft paper

Phone books

Sticky notes

Shredded paper

Metal

Aerosal spray cans (must be empty)

Aluminum cans

Aluminum foil

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

Glass

Must be empty, light rinse only. No Pyrex, ceramics or mirrors.

Bottles and jars (metal caps and lids are OK left on)

Drinking cups

Jars

Plastics

Solid plastics can be recycled.

Antifreeze bottles (empty)

Buckets (metal handle OK)

Cups, lids and plates (no Styrofoam)

Containers, clamshells and to-go packaging

Garden/flower pots and trays

Hazardous chemical containers (only if empty)

Laundry detergent bottles

Motor oil bottles (only if empty)

Toys (no electronics, metal or batteries)

Tubs, trays and lids (like yogurt containers and Tupperware)

Utensils

See the Recyclopedia if you have any questions about any of the above.

Unacceptable Recycling Materials

Items marked in green are accepted at the Community Compost Program.

Batteries

Books/DVDs

Clothing, linens and rags

Construction debris

Corks

Electronics

Food scraps

Hazardous materials or chemicals

Light bulbs: incandescent, LEDs and fluorescent

Ink or toner cartridges

Major appliances

Medical waste or medicines

Mirrors

Plates and vases

Plastic bags and wrapping

Soiled paper napkins, tissues, towels

Styrofoam

Thin film plastic

Tiles

Trash

Window panes

Wire hangers

Wood
Wrappers: all plastic lining bags and wraps

Yard waste, leaves, trimmings

Now that plastic bags are no longer accepted in single stream recycling, what should we do with them?

Reuse them! If you throw them in the trash, they are hauled to be burned at the incinerator in Peekskill and used for energy.

For information on how to dispose of non-recyclable items safely and legally, visit our Recyclopedia.