RECYCLING GUIDE
What Is Recycling, and Why Does It Matter?
Recycling is a multi-step process that starts when you drop a recyclable item in your recycling bin, and doesn’t end until that item has been turned into a new, usable product. It is important to recycle correctly, because putting non-recyclable items in the recycling bin can
contaminate recycled items,
increase the cost of sorting recycling,
damage equipment at sorting facilities,
harm workers at sorting facilities.
SAVES ENERGY & RESOURCES
REDUCES THE NEED FOR RESOURCE EXTRACTION AND LANDFILL SPACE
CREATES JOBS
Recycling Guide
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Material: Textiles
Status: Not Recycled, Special program
Details: Textiles are made from a variety of flexible and mixed materials and cannot be recycled in any recycling collection program. There are a number of programs that will collect old or unwanted apparel. See LIA’s list of textile recycling programs to find one for your store (coming soon).
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Material: Other/Mixed materials
Status: Not recycled, Special programs
Details: Do not put batteries in either garbage or recycling. Refer to this EPA guide on handling used or unwanted batteries for proper disposal.
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*As of 2023, eleven (11) US states and territories have container deposit laws. Residents of these places can return specified beverage containers at collections points for a deposit return. Check to see if your store is in one of these states or territories and learn what kinds of bottles are included.
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Material: Plastic (rigid)
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Most plastic beverage bottles are made of plastic number one (1), polyethylene terephthalate (PET). If your recycling program accepts plastic (not all do), then it almost certainly accepts this kind of plastic. Bottle caps are too small to be sorted on their own, so they should be put back on the bottle for recycling, unless your program specifically states otherwise. If your program says not to recycle bottles with their caps, then the caps should be put in the trash bin. If the bottle has a plastic wrap covering the outside of the bottle, remove and trash the plastic lining before recycling the bottle - this plastic lining may be a different material than the bottle, and may interfere with the sorting process.
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Material: Plastic (foam)
Status: Not recycled
Details: Plastic foam for beverage containers is made of expanded polystyrene, a form of plastic number six (6). Foam is not recycled in collection systems, as it is generally not a valuable enough material to make it worth the cost of collection. You may be able to find local drop-off collection sites in your area that take this material.
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Material: Compostable or biodegradable plastic
Status: Not recycled, Sometimes compostable
Details: Compostable and biodegradable have different meanings, and these terms should not be used interchangeably (see “Key Terms” section for more on this). Biodegradable plastics should always be placed in the trash bin. Compostable plastics can be placed in compost if you have access to a composting system that specifically allows compostable plastic (not all composting systems can process this material). If not, it should be placed in the trash bin.
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Material: Metal
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Rigid single-use beverage cans are typically made of aluminum and are highly recyclable. Ensure that your collection program accepts metal (not all do) before placing metal containers in the bin. Metallic beverage pouches that are soft sided (not rigid) should be put in the trash, not the recycling bin. These are made of multiple layers of mixed materials that cannot be easily separated for recycling.
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Material: Glass
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Although glass is a product that can be effectively recycled over and over, it can be costly and difficult to collect and sort. This means that not all collection programs accept glass in collection bins.
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Material: Paper
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: While cartons typically contain multiple layers of materials, the non-paper layers can usually be separated from the paper in the recycling process. As always, check with your local collection program to be sure that they can accept these items. Paper beverage containers like hot coffee cups and Tetra-Pak cartons may be accepted in some collection programs, while gable-top milk cartons are almost always accepted. If your collection program takes coffee cups, the plastic lid must be removed and disposed of separately. Always make sure the container is empty before recycling it.
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Material: Organics
Status: Not recycled, Sometime compostable
Details: Food and food-contaminated items should never be put in the recycling bin. If you have access to compost, check your compost program guidelines for which kinds of food items are accepted. Some food packaging may be compostable as well, or recyclable if made of an accepted material and if all food has been removed. This includes pizza boxes, which are becoming more frequently accepted in recycling programs - if pizza boxes are accepted in your program, make sure to remove all pizza and cheese, but some grease is acceptable. If you are not sure about an item it is best to throw it out.
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Material: Other/Mixed materials
Status: Not recycled, Special programs
Details: Gel pouches are never collected in recycling collection programs, even if made from a recyclable material like paper, as they are typically too small and cannot be cleaned of food waste. Only special programs like the Gu and Terracycle program will collect these items. If you do not have access to this program, gel packets should go in the trash bin.
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Material: Cardboard
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Insole boxes that are made purely of cardboard can be easily recycled. Check with your local guidelines to determine if insole boxes with a plastic window* can be recycled without removing the plastic. If you’re not sure, removing the plastic window is the best way to ensure it is properly recycled. If your program accepts junk mail with plastic windows, it is likely ok for you to put the box in the bin without removing the plastic window.
*Note - the plastic window itself is not recyclable. If separated, it should be placed in the trash bin. If left on the box, it will be separated from the cardboard during processing and then trashed.
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Material: Other/Mixed materials
Status: Special programs, Not recycled
Details: Light bulbs cannot be placed in recycling collection bins at your store or home. Incandescent and halogen bulbs can be safely disposed of in the trash. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and fluorescent tubes are considered hazardous waste because they contain small amounts of mercury. These bulbs should be disposed of at hazardous waste drop-off sites, or through collection programs offered through many hardware stores. LED bulbs, though not considered hazardous waste, may contain heavy metals like arsenic and lead. The best way to dispose of these bulbs is through a store recycling program, available at many hardware stores. Find recycling programs in your area through the Earth911 search tool.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Mailing envelopes, including envelopes with plastic windows, can usually be placed in the recycling bin as is. Check your local or program guidelines to see if they have different requirements. Make sure to check the contents of the envelope before recycling, as some junk mail contains promotional materials like plastic cards and adhesive that should be placed in the trash bin separately.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Mailing envelopes, including padded envelopes made entirely of paper and paper envelopes with plastic windows, can usually be placed in the recycling bin as is. Check your local or program guidelines to see if they have different requirements. If the padding in the padded envelope is made of plastic bubble wrap, it should be placed in the trash.
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Material: Plastic (film/flexible)
Status: Store drop-off
Details: Most plastic mailing envelopes, including poly mailers and those made entirely of bubble wrap, can be brought in for recycling at stores that offer plastic film recycling. Many grocery stores have bins for collecting plastic film. Before dropping plastic mailers off at a plastic film collection site, make sure to remove any paper labels by cutting this section of the mailer out. Look out for a “How2Recycle” tag displayed on some of these items for disposal instructions specific to that item.
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Material: Other/Mixed materials
Status: Not recycled
Details: Mailers made from multiple materials, such as a paper envelope lined with plastic bubble wrap, cannot be separated and should be put into the trash.
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Material: Plastic (film/flexible)
Status: Store drop-off
Details: Plastic packing materials like bubble wrap and air pillows are typically made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or plastic number four (4), but because it easily gets tangled in machinery at sorting facilities, they are not accepted in recycling collection bins. Many grocery stores have collection bins for this kind of plastic however, and you can drop them off at any participating location. Any film or flexible plastic not made from plastic numbers two (2) or four (4) should be trashed.
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Material: Plastic (rigid)
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Always check for a RIC on the packaging to determine if it is a material accepted in your collection program. If no number is given, it is safest to place the item in the trash bin. Rigid plastic used in packing and shipping is often made of plastics number three (#3: PVC) or number seven (#7: other/mixed), which are not recyclable. If there is a RIC that indicates an accepted material, the item must still be larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches in any two dimensions. Anything smaller cannot be sorted and will likely be filtered out.
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Material: Plastic (foam)
Status: Not recycled
Details: Plastic foam is usually made of expanded polystyrene, a form of plastic number six (6). Foam is not recycled in collection systems, as it is generally not a valuable enough material to make it worth the cost of collection. You may be able to find local drop-off collection sites in your area that take this material.
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Material: Bioplastic
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Unless specifically labeled as compostable or biodegradable (see “Compostable or biodegradable plastic”), bioplastic is identical to normal plastic, even if it’s made from non-petrochemical sources. It can be recycled only if it is a rigid plastic and has a RIC that your program accepts.
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Material: Cardboard
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Must be dry and larger than 2 inches by 2 inches. Anything smaller cannot be sorted and will be filtered out or contaminate sorted glass shards.
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Material: Paper
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Paper used for packing materials ranges from high quality thicker paper, to low quality tissue paper. Tissue paper should be placed in the trash. Thicker and higher quality paper like kraft paper, printer paper, or newspaper may be recyclable, but remember the rule of thumb: when in doubt, throw it out.
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Material: Compostable or biodegradable plastic
Status: Not recycled
Details: Compostable and biodegradable have different meanings, and these terms should not be used interchangeably. Biodegradable plastics should always be placed in the trash bin. Compostable plastics can be added to compost collection only if you have access to a program that specifically allows compostable plastic (not all composting systems can process this material). If not, it should be placed in the trash bin.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Paper shopping bags are typically made of kraft paper or other high quality paper that is accepted by most recycling programs. Must be dry and at least two (2) inches by two (2) inches in size. Anything smaller cannot be sorted and will be filtered out or contaminate sorted glass shards. Staples are not a problem, but any attached receipts must be removed and thrown away.
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Material: Organics
Status: Not recycled, Sometimes compostable
Details: The paper used in paper towels is not high quality enough to recycle. If you have access to compost, they can be composted only if they are not contaminated with substances that are not accepted by your compost program. Check your compost program’s guidelines for more information.
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Material: Plastic (film/flexible)
Status: Not recycled, Store drop-off
Details: Plastic bags are typically made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or plastic number four (4), but because they get tangled in machinery at sorting facilities easily, they are not accepted in recycling collection bins. Many grocery stores have collection bins for this kind of plastic however, and you can drop off clean number two (2) or number four (4) plastic film at any participating location. Any film or flexible plastic not made from plastic numbers two (2) or four (4) should be trashed.
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Material: Bioplastic
Status: Not recycled
Details: Unless specifically labeled as compostable or biodegradable (see “Compostable or biodegradable plastic”), bioplastic is identical to normal plastic, even if it’s made from non-petrochemical sources. If it is labeled as number two (2) or number four (4) plastic, it can be treated the same as standard plastic film (see “Plastic (film/flexible)”)
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Material: Compostable or biodegradable plastic
Status: Not recycled, Sometime compostable
Details: Compostable and biodegradable plastics cannot be recycled alongside normal plastics, even through store drop-off programs, and would contaminate otherwise recyclable materials they might end up with. Biodegradable and compostable also do not mean the same thing! Biodegradable plastics should go in the trash bin, while compostable plastic can be placed in a compost bin only if your compost program specifies that it accepts those materials. Not all compost facilities can accommodate compostable plastics.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Must be dry and larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches. Anything smaller cannot be sorted and will be filtered out or contaminate sorted glass shards.
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Material: Plastic
Status: Not recycled
Details: Price tag fasteners are smaller than two (2) inches by two (2) inches, meaning they cannot be sorted and will be filtered out or contaminate sorted glass shards.
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Material: Metal
Status: Not recycled
Details: Some apparel brands use metal fasteners like safety pins to attach price tags to clothing. These fasteners are too small to be recycled, but many can be reused - and at a run specialty store there are lots of opportunities to reuse these pins for races!
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Material: Textiles/fabric
Status: Not recycled, Sometimes compostable
Details: Twine used in price tag fasteners, even when made of natural materials like cotton, jute, sisal, or hemp, should not be placed in the recycling. If you have access to compost and are certain that the twine is made of one of these natural fibers, you can compost these items. If you do not have access to compost, or if you are not certain whether the twine is made of natural or synthetic fibers, then these items should be put in the trash bin.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Must be clean and dry - no food residue. Can be crumpled or flat, but it must be larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches. Anything smaller cannot be sorted and will be filtered out or contaminate sorted glass shards.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Not recyclable
Details: The vast majority of receipt paper is made using phenol coatings, either Bisphenol A (BPA) or Bisphenol S (BPS), which are contaminants in the paper recycling process. Unless you have receipt paper that is specifically labeled as recyclable and phenol-free, receipts should always go in the trash bin.
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Material: Cardboard
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Must be flattened and dry. Wet cardboard cannot be recycled, as the machinery at the MRF relies on cardboard to be flat and stiff to properly sort it. Wet cardboard can also contaminate other paper and cardboard products in the load, and jam sorting machinery. Check with your local guidelines or hauler to find out if plastic tape needs to be removed.
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Material: Cardboard
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Must be flattened and dry, with any plastic or tissue paper removed. Wet cardboard cannot be recycled, as the machinery at the MRF typically relies on cardboard to be flat and stiff to properly sort it. Wet cardboard can also contaminate other paper and cardboard products in the load, and jam sorting machinery.
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Material: Cardboard
Status: Widely recycled
Details: Must be dry and larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches. Anything smaller cannot be sorted and will likely be filtered out or contaminate sorted glass shards.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Not recycled
Details: Paper inserts in running shoes are usually made low quality tissue paper. Tissue paper is generally not accepted by recyclers and should be placed in the trash. Thicker and higher quality paper might be recyclable, but remember the rule of thumb: when in doubt, throw it out.
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Material: Other/Mixed materials
Status: Special programs
Details: Shoes are made from numerous mixed materials and cannot be recycled in any recycling collection program. There are a number of programs that will collect old or unwanted shoes and either break them down for materials or refurbish them for resale markets. See LIA’s list of shoe recycling programs to find one for your store (coming soon).
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Material: Plastic (film/flexible)
Status: Not recycled, Special programs, Store drop-off
Details: Most snack packaging, like snack bar wrappers or chip bags, are made from multiple materials that cannot be separated for recycling, and should go in the trash. If a snack package has a RIC of either two (2) or four (4), these plastics can be taken to a store drop-off location for flexible and film packaging if all food has been removed. Any plastic snack packaging with food residue that cannot be removed should be placed in the trash, regardless of the type of plastic. Some special programs may collect non-recyclable food and snack packaging items, such as the program offered by Gu and Terracycle, but these programs are not common.
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Material: Plastic (rigid)
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Plastic food and snack packaging is made from a wide variety of plastic types. Before placing any food packaging in the recycling bin, ensure the item is cleaned of all food products, and that it is larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches. The best way to determine if it is a recyclable material is to check the RIC. Plastic numbers one (PET/PETE) and two (HDPE) are widely recycled. Plastic numbers four (LDPE) and five (PP) are sometimes recycled, so make sure to check your program guidelines. Plastic numbers six (PS) and seven (other) are almost never accepted in recycling programs. Plastic number three (PVC) is not a common food packaging material, but it is not recycled and should be placed in the trash bin if encountered.
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Material: Bioplastic
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Unless specifically labeled as compostable or biodegradable (see “Compostable or biodegradable plastic”), bioplastic is identical to normal plastic, even if it’s made from non-petrochemical sources. It can be recycled only if it is a rigid plastic and has a RIC that your program accepts.
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Material: Compostable or biodegradable plastic
Status: Not recycled, Sometimes compostable
Details: Compostable and biodegradable have different meanings, and these terms should not be used interchangeably. Biodegradable plastics should always be placed in the trash bin. Compostable plastics can be placed in compost if you have access to a composting system that specifically allows compostable plastic (not all composting systems can process this material). If not, it should be placed in the trash bin.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Paper food and snack packaging that is larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches and is not contaminated with food residue can sometimes be recycled - check with your program to find out what paper food packaging may be recycled. Many paper containers for food have a wax or plastic lining on one or both sides that affects whether or not your program can accept it. If the item is too small or soiled with food it should always go into the trash. Some paper packaging may be compostable, check with your compost program to make sure the packaging does not contain any potential contaminants (like non-compostable plastic lining). If you are not sure about an item it is best to throw it out.
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Material: Cardboard
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: Cardboard food and snack packaging that is larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches and is not contaminated with food residue can be recycled. In some locations, this includes pizza boxes, which are becoming more frequently accepted in recycling programs - if pizza boxes are accepted in your program, make sure to remove all pizza and cheese, but some grease is acceptable. If the item is too small or soiled with food it should go into the trash. Some paper packaging may be compostable, check with your compost program to make sure the packaging does not contain any potential contaminants (like non-compostable plastic lining). If you are not sure about an item it is best to throw it out.
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Material: Plastic (foam)
Status: Not recycled
Details: Plastic foam for food and snack packaging is made of expanded polystyrene, a form of plastic number six (6). Foam is not recycled in collection systems because it is a very low-value material and often contaminated. You may be able to find local drop-off collection sites in your area that take this material, once cleaned of all food residue.
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Material: Mixed paper
Status: Sometimes recycled
Details: If your program accepts mixed paper, it is likely that it also accepts sticky notes that are larger than two (2) inches by two (2) inches, but check your guidelines to make sure they don’t say otherwise. When recycling sticky notes, do not crumple them, as this would make them too small to sort. Anything smaller than two (2) inches by two (2) inches cannot be sorted and will be filtered out or contaminate sorted glass shards.
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Material: Plastic
Status: Not recyclable
Details: Plastic utensils are too small to be properly sorted, and should therefore be placed in the trash bin when encountered. (Even better: avoid using them! Have a set of utensils at your stores, or carry reusable ones)
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Material: Compostable or biodegradable plastic
Status: Not recyclable
Details: In addition to being too small to be properly sorted, compostable and biodegradable plastics cannot be recycled alongside normal plastics, and would contaminate otherwise recyclable materials they might end up with. Biodegradable and compostable also do not mean the same thing! Biodegradable plastics should go in the trash bin, while compostable plastic can be placed in a compost bin, but only if the compost program you use specifies that it accepts those materials. Not all compost facilities can accommodate compostable plastics.
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Material: Bioplastic
Status: Not recyclable
Details: Unless specifically labeled as compostable or biodegradable (see “Compostable or biodegradable plastic”), bioplastic is identical to normal plastic, even if it’s made from non-petrochemical sources, and should be trashed.
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This is the small number inside the chasing arrows symbol on some plastic items, often with a short code in letters underneath the arrows (i.e. PS, PET, HDPE). This symbol does not automatically mean the item is recyclable – it is simply a code to identify what kind of plastic was used to make that item. Each recycling program will indicate which numbers it accepts. In some cases, the shape and size of the item matters more than the RIC. Plastic items made of film or that are too small cannot be recycled, even if they have a RIC that your program normally accepts.
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If an item or material is listed here as “widely recycled”, this means that putting it in your recycling bin for curbside/municipal collection is a safe bet, as this item is accepted by most* facilities.
*Always check your local or hauler’s guidelines. They may not accept some items that are listed in our guide as “widely recycled.”
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Materials or items in this category are only accepted by some collection programs. This may be because they are harder to sort at the available facilities, not valuable enough to collect, or can only be collected and processed under certain conditions (specified in the “Details” section for each item). Items in this category may be recycled through other available programs, if not accepted by your collection program.
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Items in this category are virtually never accepted in collection programs. Unless specifically identified by your collection program as an acceptable item, there items should be kept out of the recycling bin. Items in this category may be recycled through other specialized collection or drop-off programs, if not accepted by a your collection program.
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Items with this label should not be put in your recycling bin, but there may be an alternative collection or drop-off program you can bring it to. If you do not have access to a specialized collection program that accepts the item or material, it should be placed in the trash bin, unless otherwise specified (i.e. hazardous material that should be disposed of safely as specified for your community).
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This applies only to programs for certain kinds of flexible and film plastic. Many grocery stores participate in collection programs specifically for flexible or film polyethylene, which is not recyclable through curbside recycling collection. When dropping off plastic film at a participating store location, look for a bin near entry points to the store that is clearly marked as plastic bag recycling.
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Composting is a process that creates fertilizer from organic waste through a controlled decomposition process. What is compostable varies dramatically depending on what kind of compost program you have access to (if any). A backyard compost bin will be much more limited than a large industrial composting facility. Always check with the rules and guidelines for any compost program you are using to ensure the safety and quality of the compost produced. Composting is a great way to reduce the methane emissions that come from organic waste decomposing without oxygen in a landfill. For more information on composting, visit the US Composting Council or Biodegradable Products Institute.
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The paper products industry uses a variety of terms for specific materials, but for the purposes of this guide, anything that is easy to crumple or tear is considered “mixed paper” why anything that is stiffer and hard to crumple or tear is considered “cardboard”
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Rigid plastic items have a relatively inflexible fixed shape or form, and are capable of maintaining their shape or form, whether empty or full, independent of any product that it contains or other external support (source).
Flexible or film plastics such as bags or wrappers, are highly flexible and do not maintain a particular shape or form without additional support.
Foam plastic (sometimes referred to as Styrofoam) is a lightweight, air-filled material made of expanded or extruded polystyrene (plastic number 6: EPS or XPS) that is used in construction, food packaging, and packing materials. It typically feels crunchy, and is sometimes composed of visible polystyrene pellets.
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Biodegradation refers to the general process of microorganisms breaking down organic materials, while compostability refers to a certain set of standards a material must achieve to be certified as compostable. While all materials that are compostable are biodegradable, not all materials that are biodegradable are considered compostable. Compostable items must be able to break down within a particular time frame and under specific conditions. For more information on the distinction between biodegradable and compostable, visit the Biodegradable Products Institute.
Key Terms
Want to learn more about how to recycle at your store? You can start by knowing who provides recycling services at your store location.
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If your service is provided by your city, then check your local Department of Public Works for what can be placed in the bin. This “I Want to Be Recycled” tool is a great place to start!
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If you are part of a commercial complex or shopping center, ask the property manager if they have more information on what can be recycled, or if they can tell you what company collects your recycling so you can reach out to them directly.
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Do you manage your own contract with a waste management company? Then just reach out to them directly!
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Want to go a step further? Try visiting a local recycling center, also known as a Material Recovery Facility (MRF, pronounced “murf”). Knowing how your recyclables get sorted can be a huge help when trying to decide how to correctly dispose of something that isn’t explicitly listed on your recycling guide.
If you have a question about the Recycling Guide or want to see an item or material added to this list above, please fill out the form below and we’ll do our best to get the info!