The original item was published from September 4, 2020 4:50 PM to February 9, 2021 8:51 AM
If you see a recycle symbol, don't automatically place the item into your recycling cart or bring it to your community's recycling drop-off.
Think About the Item
First, think about what the item is. Is it a plastic cup/plate/container/toy? If so, then the recycling symbol with the number really exists to identify the type of polymer the item is.
Batteries
Is it a battery? Batteries are best recycled at a facility such as ReWorks' Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Center (HHWRC) or at a Batteries Plus Bulbs store. The symbol is letting you know that the battery should be properly recycled.
Batteries should never go into your recycling cart or community recycling drop-off center.
Plastic Bags
Is the material a plastic bag? These plastic bags are best brought to a grocery store and collected in bulk.
Metal
Is the material metal? Metal cans for food and beverage containers are recyclable in our recycling carts and at community recycling drop-off centers. However, any other type of metal needs to go to a scrap yard. This includes car parts, sheet metal, siding, etc.
Tips
Second, when in doubt about whether an item should go into the recycling cart or not, here are some tips:
- Contact your Solid Waste Management District or Authority. Here in Summit County, ReWorks is the Solid Waste Management Authority. You can email us or call 330-374-0383.
- If you cannot find an answer, please throw it out rather than recycle it. "Wish-cycling" is placing an item into the recycling system, when you don't know if it is recyclable or not. When we wish-cycle, often the item becomes a contaminant. While many of us feel that a certain item should be recycled, if there is no way to collect the item at our Material Recovery Facilities then where does recycled material go? Wish-cycled items make the recycling of other materials harder.