How to recycle

Here’s a general guide of what the EPA says can and can’t be recycled. Your state or city may have different guidelines, so make sure to check those beforehand.

Paper products

In general, paper needs to be dry and free of food scraps. You do not need to remove staples, labels or stickers.

Usually recyclable:

⬤ Newspapers

⬤ Magazines

⬤ Pizza boxes (even if they have grease on them)

⬤ Mail (even with plastic windows)

⬤ Cardboard boxes and containers

⬤ Cardboard roll from toilet paper

⬤ Paper with ink on it

⬤ Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towel

Usually not recyclable:

⬤ Hygiene or sanity products (tissues, napkins, wipes, paper towels)

⬤ Toilet paper

⬤ Waxed paper

⬤ Receipts

⬤ Shredded paper

⬤ Sticky notes or stickers

⬤ Plastic-coated paper

Plastics

Plastic containers usually have a triangle with a resin number somewhere on the packaging that shows how they were made. Compare this symbol to your local recycling guidelines to find out if it’s eligible for recycling.

Note these two types of plastic typically cannot be recycled in

household bins:

⬤ Plastic bags, wraps and films

⬤ Styrofoam

You cannot recycle compostable plastics.

Glass

Glass food and beverage containers can be reused several times and are a cheaper way to make new glass.

Glass of different colors and types can be mixed together, as long as you separate the glass from other materials, such as metal or plastic caps. You should not include broken glass in your recycling practices.

Aluminum

Aluminum cans and foil can both be recycled as long as they do not contain food residue. According to the EPA, you do not need to crush aluminum cans before recycling because they can even be more difficult to sort at single-stream recycling facilities.

Other

⬤ Batteries: Should not go in household garbage or recycling bins, but can be dropped off at local collection points for recycling.

⬤ Electronics: Can be dropped off at specific collection sites to be recycled or donated.

⬤ Metal: Check your state or city for local metal recycling programs.

⬤ Used oil: Should not be disposed of in the drain because of its toxicity, but can be recycled at a local facility for reuse.