Clear is the most valuable. Metal lids are OK.
|Ceramics, pyrex, tablware, windows, lightbulbs, mirrors.||Ceramics contaminate glass recycling. Unbroken glass is easier for recyclers to sort. Put plastic caps with plastic.|
|Clean dry newspapers &
|Rubber bands, plastic bags, product samples, water, dirt, mold or other contamination.||Pack newspapers tightly in large brown grocery sacks or tie with natural twine. Keep dry.|
|Empty metal cans, caps, lids, bands and foil||Full cans, spray cans unless instructed, cans with paint or hazardous waste.||Unlike plastic, metal recycled again and again.|
|Plastic stamped #1 or #2
Some areas only accept clear plastic or narrow neck shapes.
|Plastic types #3, #4, #5, #6 or especially #7. Caps are usually a different type from the bottle - toss if unmarked.||Even a small amount of the wrong type of plastic can ruin a melt. Recycled plastic is not as good as virgin plastic.|
|Plastic stamped #3||Avoid. Contaminates other plastic recyling.||Toxic, especially if burned, see here.|
|Grocery bags, most clear plastic bags especially if marked #2 or #4. Also in many places bubble wrap and padded bubble envelopes.||Paper, water, dirt, mold or other contamination.||Reduce your need; reuse bags until they're torn. Use old bags to pick up dog waste. Many grocery stores have a barrel for recycling old bags. Since most of this gets mixed with sawdust to make plastic wood, padded bubble envelopes are OK (though not everyone knows this).|
|Mixed paper: junk mail, magazines, photocopies, computer printouts, cereal/shoe boxes, etc. (some places also take corrugated cardboard and phone books)||Stickers, napkins, tissues, waxed paper, milk cartons, carbon paper, laminated paper (fast food wraps, some food bags, drink boxes, foil), neon paper, thermal fax paper. Any wet or food stained paper.||When in doubt, throw it out.
Paper fiber can be recycled about 7 times before it gets too small. Plastic window envelopes are ok.
|"Paper" milk cartons||Rinse quickly & fully open top. These are NOT acceptable in many recycling programs, due to contamination, odor, and the waterproof liner.||See www.recyclecartons.com. Often cartons are "recycled" via composting.|
|Scrap aluminum such as lawn chairs, window frames and pots||Metal parts attracted to magnets. Non-metal parts.||Aluminum is not attracted to magnets.|
|There is no need to remove labels or bands from cans and bottles. Clean only enough to prevent odors. Do not recycle containers with traces of hazardous materials. Do not recycle dirty or food stained paper.|
|Motor oil (never dump into storm drains) and Tires.||Call your garbage company, local quick-lube, tire shop or call 1-800-MOTOROIL. Old oil and old tires are serious problems.|
|Automotive batteries, sealed lead/gel-cell batteries||Keep lead out of the environment; take to an automotive or security dealer for trade in or credit.|
|Rechargeable batteries (cordless phone, camcorder, shaver, portable appliance, computer, etc.)||Call 1-800-8BATTERY for information. Throw alkaline and heavy duty batteries in trash unless prohibited (See California Universal Waste Note). Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable batteries contain toxins, please recycle.|
|Laser/Ink printer cartridges||Send to one of the many recyclers or refillers.|
|Household toxics (paints, oils, pesticides, cleaners, medicines)||Call your garbage company for advice. Do not dump into storm drains.|
|Computers, eyeglasses, household goods||Donate to charity. Give to a repair shop.|
|This is world's shortest comprehensive USA/Canada recycling guide. Contains generalizations; local procedures may differ. From the Consumer Recycling Guide, "www.obviously.COM/recycle/". ©1997-2006 Evergreen Industries. Remember: Unless you buy recycled products, you are not recycling.|