Recyclable Materials

One of the basic rules of recycling is to make sure all containers (i.e., pizza box, tuna can, pet food can, food jars, etc.) are fairly clean as contaminants can damage the machinery used to separate the recyclables.  Metal caps and lids should be removed (labels can remain).  Lids can also be recycled but should be removed, if possible.

Acceptable Items for Recycling:

Newspaper (with inserts), magazines, catalogs, phone books, soft cover books, manila envelopes, folders, spiral notebooks, greeting cards, flyers, lottery tickets, envelopes (windows are okay), office paper (staples and paperclips do not have to be removed), cereal boxes, shoe boxes, CLEAN pizza boxes, post-it notes, waxed paper boxes (i.e., paper milk containers), etc.  Paper includes colored, construction craft, fax, packing paper, glossy paper, corrugated cardboard and paperboard.  Shredded paper contained in another bag is also acceptable.  Rigid plastic containers: Look for the recycling logo like the one above with a number in the middle.  Tin, steel, aluminum food containers and lids. Material made of aluminum.  All glass drinking bottles and jars (including wine and liquor bottles, soda and beer bottles, juice containers, ketchup bottles and food containers).  Plastic bags in a box of cake mix, for example, as long as there is not a foil lining within the bag, is acceptable.  It is preferred the bags are contained to help keep them from blowing around the Transfer Station.  While the Transfer Station accepts residential electronics (computers, televisions, monitors, etc.), ensure all data is permanently erased prior to disposal.

Unacceptable Items for Recycling:

No oil contaminated containers.  No cookware, dishes, drinking glasses, ceramics, mirrors, automobile glass or light bulbs, clay flower pots, crystal and ceramic cups.  No polystyrene (aka styrofoam) of any kind and no plastic grocery bags..... these two items should be placed in blue trash bags.  No aerosol cans (whipped cream, etc.).  Mixing these with other acceptable recyclables renders the whole load unacceptable for recycling.

Should you still have questions after reading this list, please feel free to contact the DPW Department or ask a staff member at the Transfer Station.