Accepted Recycling Items

All items must be clean & dry, separated by type, and must not be placed in bags of any kind. All of our locations accept the same set of standard materials.

If you have any questions or are unable to find a particular item, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Accepted At All Locations

Aluminum Recycling
Plastics Recycling
Cardboard Recycling
Steel Recycling
Glass Recycling
Small Electronics Recycling
Mixed Paper Recycling

  • Aluminum: Aluminum Cans, Foil, and Foil Pans (Clean/Rinsed)

  • Cardboard: Cardboard Boxes, Cardboard Packaging, Paperboard, Brown Paper, and Brown Paper Bags (Clean and Dry)

  • Glass: Glass Bottles and Glass Jars (Recycle Lids Separately)

    • NO Plate Glass, Table Tops, Doors, Windows, Mirror Glass, Pyrex, or Lightbulbs

  • Paper: Mixed Paper, Office Paper, Shredded Paper, Magazines, Books (Hardcover and Paperbound), Newspaper, Coated Cartons, Paper Cups, Paper Juice Boxes, Paper Packaging, Wrapping Paper (No Metal or Glitter), Paper Folders and Notebooks, Cards, Junk Mail (Windowed Envelopes are Fine), and Pizza Boxes (Grease Free) (Clean and Dry)

    • NO Caps or Straws

    • NO Cardboard or Brown Paper (Put With Cardboard)

  • Plastic: Rigid Plastics Labeled 1-7 (Clean, Dry, and Unbagged. Crush Items and Reattach Lids)

    • NO Plastic Bags, Flimsy Plastic, Bubble Wrap, Straws, Styrofoam, Oil or Antifreeze Containers

  • Steel: Steel Food Cans, Steel Pet Food Cans (Lids Can Be Included) (Clean and Dry)

    • NO Aerosol Containers (Take to HHW at South Walnut)

    • NO Scrap Metal

  • Limited HHW: Small Household Batteries, Used Car Oil and Filters, Food Oil (Average Temperature Must Be Warmer Than 50F Outside), and Antifreeze

  • Scrap Metal: Metal Household Items and Decor, Metal Bed Frames, Microwaves (Throw Away Glass Plate), Grills (No Tanks), Pots and Pans, Tire Rims (No Tires), Stove, Washer/Dryer, Metal Pipes, Metal Fence/Posts, Barbed or Chicken Wire (No Large Bails), Lawn Mowers (No Fluids), Metal Furniture, Metal Toys, Metal Swing Sets, Dishwasher, Household Appliances (Toasters, Blenders, Etc.), Vacuums, Fans, Water Heaters (Drained), Metal Auto Parts (Fluids Drained), Furnaces, and Exercise Equipment

    • NO Freon Appliances*

  • Small Electronics: Any Small Electronic Without A Screen that Has a Cord or Uses Batteries, Remotes, Cords, Electronic Accessories

    • NO Electronics with a Screen Larger than 7 Inches*

    • NO Freon Appliances*

    *Items with Screens Larger than 7 Inches and Appliances Containing Freon Must Come to South Walnut’s HHW and Are Subject to a $20 Fee Per Item

    For additional handling details, read more about each item on the Household Hazardous Waste page.

ReUse Area:

Each Recycling Center has an area where residents are welcome to drop off items for reuse. Residents are welcome to take a max of 4 items total per person. Example of items commonly donated are below:

Housewares, Kitchenware, Tools, Toys, Dishes, Pet Supplies, Office and School Supplies, Craft Supplies, Decor, Books, Movies, and Party Supplies

Accepted At South Walnut Only:

The South Walnut location accepts all of the same materials as the other Recycling Centers, and can also take:

  • Household Hazardous Waste: Electronics, Electronic Cords, Electronic Accessories, String Lights, Electronics with a Screen** (TV’s, Monitors, Laptops), Appliances Containing Freon** (Dehumidifier, Fridge, Freezer, Air Conditioner), Chemical Containers, Gas and Petroleum, Propane Tanks, Paint (Fees May Apply for Latex Paint), Non-Prescription Medication (In Original Container), Automotive Liquids, Light Bulbs (LED, Halogen, Fluorescent, CFL), Tires (Fees Apply), Sharps (In Sharps Containers-Provided if Needed), Cleaning Products, Fertilizers, Herbicides, Pesticides, Pool Chemicals, Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Detectors, Car Batteries, Household Batteries, Aerosol Containers, Ink Cartridges (No Toner), Thermometers,

  • Terracycle Drop Off (In HHW): Toothbrushes, Toothpaste Tubes and Caps, Floss Containers, Electric Toothbrush Heads, Toothbrush Packaging, Razors, Razor Blades, Razor Packaging, Flexible Plastic Packaging, Rigid Plastic Packaging

*For more details go to our Household Hazardous Waste page.

**Items with Screens Larger than 7 Inches and Appliances Containing Freon Must Come to South Walnut’s HHW and Are Subject to a $20 Fee Per Item

Terracycle Colgate Program Sign
Terracycle Gillette Program

  • Sidewalk Exchange, MFA*, and Donations: CD’s and DVD’s (With or Without Cases), Clothing in Good Condition (NO Underwear), Shoes, Housewares, Kitchenware, Eye Glass, Textiles (Bedding, Towels, Tablecloths, Rugs), Gardening Items, Toiletries, Tools, Toys, Pet Supplies, Craft Supplies, School Supplies, Books, Décor, Party Supplies, Non Perishable Food, Soft Packaging Foam (Not Styrofoam), Styrofoam Peanuts (No Blocks or Chunks and Must Be Boxed or Bagged), Cornstarch Peanuts (Bagged or Boxed), Magazines, Egg Cartons (12 Count Only), Bubble Wrap (No Pillow Packs), Newspaper, Moving Boxes

*See the Materials for the Arts Program page for details.

Accepted At Rural Sites Only:

Orange Bag Trash Program:

The Orange Bag Program provides regular waste drop-off for all county residents. Details and locations to purchase bags are here.

Bulky Item Disposal:

This is for household Items that are too large to fit in a trash bag. Only Items listed are accepted.

Materials Not Accepted by the District:

There are a few types of materials that we are unable to accept or process at our facilities, but this does not necessarily mean that they are not recyclable. Learn more about each material below:

  • NO Styrofoam

    • We currently have no local vendors that will take this material for recycling.

    • The site homeforfoam.com maintains a searchable map of registered drop-off and curbside pickup locations around the country.

  • NO Soft Plastics (Plastic film, plastic bags, bubble wrap, etc.,)

    • None of our vendors will take this material for recycling.

    • Some grocery stores have a drop off for plastic bags and some soft plastics at their store entrances.

    • Visit plasticfilmrecycling.org to learn what you can recycle and where.

  • NO Yard Waste