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Plastic

  • Plastics must be CLEAN and DRY

  • Most plastic materials are labeled with a number from 1-7, but the lower the number, the better the recyclable quality/plastic grade

    • 1: soda bottles, water bottles, food packaging

    • 2: detergents, bleach, milk, motor oil bottles

    • 3: plastic piping, toys, furnishings

    • 4: plastic wrap, grocery bags sandwich bags

    • 5: clothing, bottles, tubs, rope

    • 6: cups, foam food trays, packing peanuts

    • 7: various applications

Can be recycled

  • Beverage/water bottles

    • Empty your bottles, put the lids back on, and place them in the recycling

    • The caps and rings must stay on the bottles because if separated, will end up as "tiny plastics" that are redirected to a landfill

  • CD cases (actual CDs go in trash)

  • Detergent bottles

  • Plastic flower pots

  • Hard plastic toys

  • Juice and milk jugs

    • Must be completely plastic

  • Large reusable water bottles

  • Medicine bottles

  • Plastic (and Ziploc) bags, Packaging air pillows (must be deflated), Bubble wrap

    • Should NOT be recycled individually because they can clog machines at recycling centers​

    • Bundle together about 10-20 bags into a larger bag, then place the larger bag with the other bags inside it in the recycling

    • If bags can be dropped off at a local grocery store for recycling, it is even better

  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe

  • Shampoo and lotion bottles

  • Soda, water, mouthwash, and condiment containers

  • Spray bottles

  • Squeezable bottles (e.g. honey)

  • Yogurt and margarine tubs

Not recyclable (goes in trash)

  • Food and drink pouches (e.g., Capri Sun)

  • CDs

  • Cling Wrap​

    • Even if clean, it cannot be recycled because the chemicals and resins used to make wrap cannot be removed, so it becomes too complex a plastic to be recycled​​

  • Credit cards

    • When processed through recycling machines,​ will end up as "tiny plastics" that are redirected to a landfill

  • Ice packs

    • The liquid gelatin inside makes them unrecyclable​​

  • Plastic hangers (they are usually made up of different type of plastics making them complex to recycle)

  • Plastic-padded envelopes​

    • Paper envelopes (typically yellow) with bubble wrap ​or other plastic cushioning glued inside must be trashed because they are mixed material and it's hard to separate the paper from the plastic at recycling centers

  • Plastic toys

  • Plastic utensils (forks/knives)

  • Soiled plastic bags

    • Contaminated items, no matter the material, can contaminate an entire recycling bin which will then be treated like trash and sent to a landfill

  • Styrofoam (There is no demand for polystyrene (#6) recyclables)

    • Cups

    • Plates

    • Egg cartons

    • Packing peanuts

    • Take-out containers

  • Vinyl/PVC (not accepted by Greenwaste)

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Paper/Cardboard

  • Paper and cardboard must be CLEAN, DRY, and FLATTENED

Can be recycled

  • Shredded paper

    • Must be bagged in clear plastic or paper bag, otherwise will end up as "tiny papers" that are redirected to a landfill

  • Cardboard

  • Catalogs

  • Cereal and cracker boxes

    • Inner plastic bags should be removed

  • Egg cartons

  • Envelopes

    • Plastic windows are okay because it's relatively easy to separate the paper from the plastic at recycling centers

  • Grocery bags (paper)

    • Remove handles and put those in trash (if not removed, they will end up as "tiny papers" that are redirected to a landfill)

  • Magazines

  • Mail

  • Milk & Juice cartons

    • Rinse them out​

  • Newspaper

  • Newspaper inserts and advertisements

    • Gloss coatings are okay

  • Office paper

    • Includes printer paper and construction paper

  • Shoe boxes

  • Shopping bags/Gift bags

    • Gift bags that are made with paper and nothing else can be recycled 

    • Gift bags made with plastic, plastic-coated paper, fabric and other materials will likely need to go in the trash can. Handles and adornments must be removed.

    • ift bags that are made with paper and nothing else can be recycled 

  • Telephone books

  • Wrapping paper

    • It must not have a wax coating or be metallic, shiny, sparkly, or made out of foil because then it would be mixed material

Not recyclable (goes in trash)

  • Carbon paper

  • Take-out containers, Soiled Paper

    • Will contaminate entire load of recyclables, which will then be treated as trash and will be redirected to a landfill​

  • Paper Cups/Plates

    • Most have a plastic or wax lining​

  • Photographs and photo paper

  • Pizza boxes

    • ​Will contaminate entire load of recyclables, which will then be treated as trash and will be redirected to a landfill

    • If top flap of box is clean and grease free, it can be torn off and recycled 

  • Thermal fax paper​

  • Tissue Paper

    • Made out of recycled fibers that are too short to be recycled​

  • Waxed paper cartons

    • Wax covering prevents them from being recyclable​

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Metal

  • Metals must be CLEAN and DRY

Can be recycled

  • Aluminum foil and trays (as long as they are clean; reuse if you can)

  • Cutlery/utensils

  • Empty aerosol cans

  • Food and beverage cans

    • This includes soda, tuna, soup, pet food, etc.

  • Keys 

  • Metal lids and caps from glass bottles​​

  • Metal pots and pans​

  • Empty paint cans

    • The paint must dry out, then can ​be taken to some hardware store to be recycled

  • Small metal appliances

    • This includes toasters, waffle irons, blenders, etc.

  • Tin and steel cans and lids​

Not recyclable (goes in trash)

  • Aluminum bubble wrap

    • Can clog machines at recycling centers​

  • Aluminum insulation

    • Can clog machines at recycling centers​

  • Empty paint cans

    • The paint must dry out, then can be trashed

  • Foil pouches

  • Hangers

  • Hardware

    • This includes bolts, nails, nuts, screws, etc.

  • Tools?​

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Glass

  • Glass must be CLEAN and DRY

Can be recycled

  • Glass bottles and jars (all colors)

Not recyclable (goes in trash)

  • Potentially breakable and dangerous glass:

    • Drinking glasses​​​

    • Mirrors

    • Window glass

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Packaging

  • Some packaging materials (like air pillow packaging) can be dropped off at some grocery stores and don't necessarily have to be thrown away

Can be recycled

  • Carton packaging

  • Flattened cardboard boxes

    • These need to be cut up and/or stored outside of recycling bin if too large

  • Paper stuffing and molded cardboard

  • Packaging air pillows (must be deflated), Bubble wrap

    • Place in a larger bag

    • Should NOT be recycled individually because they can clog machines at recycling centers​

Not recyclable (goes in trash)

​

  • Plastic Clamshell Packaging (unless it is labeled with numbers 1-7)

  • From a food package:

    • Ice packs

    • Aluminum bubble wrap

    • Insulation​​​​​​

  • Packing peanuts

    • Must be tied securely in plastic bag, even if trashed

  • Styrofoam

    • Poor recyclable quality because of the material it is made of, so cannot be recycled effectively​

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Yard Trimmings

Can be collected

  • Branches

    • Must be 5 feet or shorter in length and 6 inches or less in diameter

  • Flowers

  • Grass clippings

    • Can be grasscycled instead

  • Holiday trees

    • Must be cut up into smaller pieces that are 5 feet or shorter in length and 6 inches or less in diameter

  • Leaves

  • Palm fronds

  • Small prunings

  • Sod

    • With as much soil removed as possible

Not collected (goes in trash)

  • Items that cannot easily be turned into compost:

    • Ashes

    • Concrete and rocks

    • Dirt

    • Fruits and vegetables

    • Lumber

    • Pumpkins

    • Pet waste

    • Wooden hangers

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Hazardous

  • Hazardous materials CANNOT be recycled OR trashed

  • Household hazardous waste must be disposed of through other methods

    • Visit www.hhw.org or call (408) 299-7300 to schedule a FREE drop-off appointment

    • Visit http://www.sjenvironment.org/index.aspx?NID=3649 to schedule a FREE junk pickup (for larger items)

    • Call the Recycling Hotline at (408) 924-5453 or (800) 533-8414 for unusual/hard to recycle items (trophies, pool tables, sports equipment, etc.)

Not recyclable

  • Electronics (e-waste)​

    • Cell phones or landline telephones

    • Computers, laptops, tablets, or computer accessories

    • Copiers, printers, or fax machines

    • DVD or VCR players

    • Stereos

    • Televisions

    • Video game consoles

  • Batteries

  • Medicine​​

  • Propane tanks

  • Pesticides and cleaners

  • Fluorescent bulbs

  • Sharp objects

    • These include needles, knives, etc.​

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Misc.

Can be recycled

  • Textiles (must be clean and tied inside a clear plastic bag)

    • Blankets and sheets

    • Clean cotton, linen, polyester, rayon, and wool fabrics

    • Clothes

Not recyclable (goes in trash)

  • ALL food​

  • Bows

  • Carpet and rugs​

  • Ceramics (cups/plates/etc.)

    • Made of material that cannot be recycled​

  • Disposable diapers

  • Down-filled items

  • Electric blankets

  • Household items

    • This includes broken dishes, garden hoses, pillows, stuffed animals, etc.

  • Incandescent light bulbs

  • Insulated foil car sunshade

  • Leather

  • Nylon

  • Play/Kiddie pools

  • Ribbons

  • Rubber

  • Shoes​

  • Tarps

    • ​Poor recyclable quality because of the material it is made of, so cannot be recycled effectively

  • Waxed paper

  • Water filters

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