Your Guide to Recycling
Because you asked us…
At the Recycling District, we get a lot of questions about what is and what isn’t recyclable. Here is our latest:
Paper recycling:
1) Make sure your paper is one of the following: Newspaper, magazines, telephone books, mail, printed or copier paper and chipped board (e.g.: cereal boxes).
2) Paper should be loose when placed in the bin. No glossy paper or foil wrapping paper. Christmas wrapping paper can be recycled as long as there is no glitter.
3) Paper should not be stained by waste.
4) NO SHREDDED PAPER!
Paper that is recyclable…
Cereal box
Office paper
Newspaper including inserts
Catalogs
Telephone book
Tablet paper
Soft Back Books
Magazines
Tissue boxes
Non-recyclable materials…
Feminine products
Paper towels
Dirty pizza boxes
Napkins
Shredded paper
Sticks
Grass clippings
No leaves or yard waste
No lumber
Pringle can
Cardboard Recycling:
1) Corrugated Cardboard only.
2) Cardboard should be broken down to be placed inside of the recycling bin. Tape does not need to be removed but helps if you do.
3) Cardboard should be clean and dry. All materials should be removed from inside the cardboard and thrown away. No styrofoam, bubble wrap, or any other packaging material should remain inside the flattened boxes.
4) Pizza boxes with grease on them should be thrown away. They are considered a contaminant.
5) Cereal boxes should be placed in the paper bin since they are paperboard.
Cardboard that is recyclable…
Corrugated cardboard
Shipping boxes
Non-recyclable material in the fiber bins…
Feminine products
Paper towels
Dirty pizza boxes
Napkins
Shredded paper
Sticks
Grass clippings
No leaves or yard waste
No lumber
Pringle can
Metal and Aluminum Cans:
1) All metal and aluminum cans should be clean, dry, and empty.
2) Only metal and aluminum food and beverage cans are accepted. No other metal or aluminum items will be accepted.
3) All metal and aluminum cans should be placed loosely (not in any bag or any other container) in the recycling bin.
Cans that are recyclable…
Aerosol cans
Soup cans
Veggie. Cans
Soda cans
Non-recyclable materials…
Scrap metal
Propane Tanks
Pots/pans
Bikes
Machines
Toys
Electronics
Appliances
Televisions
Ovenware
Metal Clothes Hanger
Glass Bottles and Jars:
1) All glass bottles and jars should be clean, dry, and empty. Unclean material may result in a contaminated load that is placed in the landfill. Rinsing out your glass will keep bees and other critters away.
2) Lids and caps may be kept on the glass bottle or jar. This is not a requirement.
3) Glass may be any color and should be placed loosely in the bin (No bags or containers).
4) No window panes, glassware, mirrors, or lightbulbs may be placed in this bin. These items should be thrown away in your trash.
Glass Bottles and Jars that are recyclable…
Wine bottles
Beer bottles
Spaghetti jar
Pickle jar
Food jars
Non-recyclable materials…
Light bulbs
Windows
Drinking Glassware
Plastic Bottles and Jugs:
1) Plastic bottles and jugs should be clean, dry, and empty. A quick rinse usually satisfies most containers if addressed right away.
2) All plastics should have a “neck and shoulders” to be recycled.
3) Do not use plastic numbers (Plastics #1-7) to determine if something is recyclable or not.
4) Keep your lids on the plastic bottle or jug.
5) Plastic bottles and jugs should be placed loosely
Some examples of recyclable plastics…
Water bottles, any size. I.e. gallon, liter, 16 oz
Soda bottles, any size
Any plastic soft drink bottle , any size
Plastic peanut butter jar
Laundry detergent jugs any size
Milk jugs
Small plastic milk bottles
Colored plastic soda bottles
Mustard bottle
Mayonnaise jar
Shampoo bottles
Hand soap bottles
Dish soap bottles
Creamer bottle
Bleach bottles
Household cleaner bottles
Plastics that are not recyclable…
Juice pouches
Yogurt cups
Sauce cups
Cottage cheese cups
Styrofoam of any kind
Milk cartons
Plastic straws
Wrappers
Cups lids
Plastic shopping bags and film
Bread bags
Toys
Garbage bags
Takeout containers
Clear clamshell packaging
Berry containers
Fast food cups
Coffee cups
Gardening pots
Water hose
Cat litter bucket
Bucket
Bubble wrap
Oil/antifreeze containers
Clothes hangers
Plastic utensils
So helpful! Thank you so much for this detailed list!
Absolutely! If you have any suggestions for improvement, let us know!
Could you make this list a printable document? I’d love to hang it on my fridge for easy reference 🙂
Let me see what I can do!
Can pill bottles or medicine bottles be recycled?
They must have a neck and shoulders and be larger than a credit card to be recycled.
Can you recycle milk cartons? And would it be considered paper or plastic?
Disregard! I missed that it was listed under “do not recycle” in plastics.
All good! Thank you for commenting and asking! We would rather you ask. Enjoy your day!
Can shredded paper be accepted if it is placed in a paper bag and stapled shut OR placed in a plastic recycle bag?
No. Shredded paper must be thrown away in the trash.
Can Vitamin bottles be recycled?
Yes, so long as they have a neck and shoulders and are larger than a credit card.
Can plastic milk jugs be recycled?
Yes, they are plastic jug.
Do magazines need to have their staples removed?
What does “Paper should be loose when placed in the bin” mean exactly?
Staples do not need to be removed. Paper should be loose means they should not be placed inside of a bag or other form of container inside the bin. For example, I pour all of my sheets of paper meant for recycling from my plastic recycling tote into the bin so that they are loose. Does that help?
Is thee any place to recycle metal, i,e, 100% metal clothes hangers, metal kebab spears used for grilling?
Yes, you can make an appointment at the Canton Recycle Center by going here: https://www.timetorecycle.org/hhw-appointments/