What Can Be Recycled in Curbside Carts?

Cardboard

To prepare cardboard for curbside recycling and at community single stream recycling drop-off locations, make sure the cardboard is clean (no food/oil), empty, not bagged, and flattened.

Cartons

To prepare cartons for curbside recycling and at community single stream recycling drop-off locations, make sure they are clean, empty, not bagged, and lids removed. Don't flatten cartons and it is okay to keep the plastic spout attached. Cartons are commonly used for:

• Juice
• Milk
• Soy or grain milk
• Stock/broth and soup

Interested in knowing more about cartons? Visit the Carton Council's Frequently Asked Questions page.

Paper

Paper that can be placed in curbside recycling and at community single stream recycling drop-off locations should be clean (no food/oil).

This includes items such as:

• Cereal boxes
• Magazines
• Mail
• Newspapers
• Office paper

Shredded Paper

Do not put shredded paper in curbside recycling programs. Shredded paper contaminates other recyclables and material recovery facilities (MRFs) have difficulty capturing the small fibers for recycling.

It is better to take advantage of ReWorks' free Document Shredding and Recycling Events where all of your important papers will be shredded on site and then properly recycled through a facility equipped for paper only recycling.

For More Information

For more information on paper recycling and shredding, visit:

• Programs and Services page
• Document Shredding and Recycling Events page

Plastic Bottles & Jugs

Bottles and jugs for curbside recycling and at community single stream recycling drop-off locations, should be clean, empty, not bagged, and lids removed (lids are too small to be captured at recycling centers).

This includes items like:

• Bleach bottles
• Laundry detergent jugs
• Milk bottles and jugs
• Shampoo bottles
• Water and juice jugs
• Water and soda bottles

Most local recycling processors are only able to accept plastic bottles and jugs.  Please support recycling by not putting other types of plastic into your recycling container. If you do, it will likely have to be sorted out as trash.