What belongs in each cart?
Commonly disposed of items are included in the searchable list below. The color-coding indicates proper sorting. Contact us for information regarding any unlisted item. Click here for a list of common items that contaminate the recyclables stream.
Items in gray (this table) belong in the garbage container.
| 6-PACK RINGS (PLEASE CUT) | LAMINATED ITEMS | REPORT COVER (PLASTIC) |
| ASH, FIREPLACE & BBQ (DAMP, COLD AND CONTAINED) | LIGHT BULBS (NO FLUORESCENT) | RUBBER BANDS |
| BINDERS (PLASTIC) | METAL CABLE WIRE | RUBBER/NEOPRENE |
| BUBBLE WRAP | METALLIC WRAPPING PAPER | RUGS/MATS |
| CANDLES | MIRRORS | SPONGES |
| CARBON PAPER | NAILS | STRAWS/STIR STICKS (PLASTIC) |
| CDs | NYLON | STUFFED ANIMALS/TOYS (UNWANTED OR CAN'T BE DONATED) |
| CELLO WRAP AROUND FLOWER BOUQUETS | PACKING PEANUTS (TO TAKE TO SHIPPING STORES) | STYROFOAM |
| CERAMICS (INCLUDING TILE) | PAPER CLIPS | TAPE: DUCT/MASKING/SCOTCH |
| CHEWING GUM | PAPER USED FOR CLEANING (SOILED) | TEMPERED GLASS (CORNING WARE, PYREX) |
| COMPUTER DISKETTES | PENCILS WITH ERASERS | TEXTILES |
| COSMETICS CONTAINERS WITH RESIDUE | PENS (INKS) | TOOTHPASTE TUBES |
| COTTON BALLS | PET FECES | TRANSPARENCIES/MICROFILM/NEGATIVES/ACETATE) |
| DEODORANT CASING | PIZZA BOXES | UTNESILS (PLASTIC) |
| DIAPERS | PLANTS (PLASTIC) | VACUUM BAGS |
| FACIAL TISSUE | PLASTIC BAGS (CAN ALSO BE TAKEN BACK TO GROCERY STORES) | WATER JUGS |
| FEMININE PRODUCTS | PLASTIC FILM | WAXED PAPER (FOOD-SOILED) |
| FOAM (ALL TYPES) | PLASTIC WRAP | WINDOW GLASS |
| GLASS CUPS & GLASSES | PLASTICS (UNMARKED OR NOT MARKED WITH 1-7) | WOOD (TREATED) |
| HANGERS (DRY CLEANERS WILL TAKE BACK HANGERS) | POLYSTRYRENE | |
| HOSE (GARDEN OR RUBBER) | Q-TIPS (WITH PAPER OR WOODEN WANDS) | |
| ICE CREAM WRAPPERS (PLASTIC) | RECORD, TAPES OR CDS |
Items in green (this table) belong in the yard trimmings container.
| CACTUS | LEAVES | WEEDS |
| CHOPSTICKS (WOODEN) | PRUNINGS | WINE CORKS |
| FLOWERS | SAWDUST | WOOD (UNCOASTED, UNTREATED) |
| GRASS CUTTINGS | SHRUBS | YARD WASTE |
| HOUSEPLANTS | TREE TWIGS AND BRANCHES UP TO 6" IN DIAMETER | |
| ICE CREAM STICKS (WOODEN) | TREES (HOLIDAY, UNFLOCKED) |
Items in blue (this table) belong in the recycling container.
| aerosol cans (empty) | drink boxes (juice) | paper towel & toilet paper tubes |
| aluminum cans | egg cartons (paper) | phone books |
| aluminum foil | envelopes with metal clasps | plastics labeled 1-7 |
| aluminum pans | frozen food boxes | pots & pans |
| aseptic containers | fruit baskets (plastic, and if labeled 1-7) | salad dressing bottles |
| bleach bottles (empty) | glass bottles & jars only | scrap metal |
| boxes (shipping) | grocery bags (paper) | shampoo bottles |
| cans, food (bi-metal/tin) | hardbound books | shoe boxes |
| carbonless paper | ice cream cartons (rinsed) | soft drink bottles |
| cardboard (flatten/cut large or multiple boxes) | junk mail | soup boxes |
| catalogs | magazines | soy milk boxes |
| cereal boxes | milk cartons (paper, rinsed) | tub-type containers such as those used for yogurt, cottage cheese, and margarine if labeled 1-7 |
| computer paper | newspapers (including inserts) | water jugs |
| cookie sheets | paint cans (empty latex) | |
| detergent bottles | paper (adhesive/post-its) | |
| juice bottles | paper packaging with remnant tape |
Items in brown (this table) belong in the food scraps container.
| row1 | row2 | row3 |
|---|---|---|
| BONES | FRUIT | PASTA |
| BREAD | GRAINS | PITS AND PEELS |
| CEREAL | LEFTOVER FOOD (FRESH, FROZEN, COOKED, MOLDY) | PIZZA BOX LINERS |
| CHEESE | LEFTOVER PIZZA | RICE |
| COFFEE CUPS (FOOD-SOILED PAPER) | MEAT | TEA LEAVES/TEA BAGS |
| COFFEE FILTERS (PAPER) | NEWSPAPER (FOOD-SOILED) | VEGETABLES |
| COFFEE GROUNDS | PAPER PLATES (FOOD-SOILED) | WAXED PAPER CONTAINERS/CUPS |
| DAIRY PRODUCTS | PAPER TAKE-OUT CARTONS WITHOUT METAL HANDLES (FOOD-SOILED) | |
| EGG & EGG SHELLS | PAPER TOWELS (FOOD-SOILED) |
Items in red (this table) are Hazardous Waste. Click here to find correct disposal method.
| row1 | row2 | row3 |
|---|---|---|
| ANTIFREEZE | MEDICATIONS (UNWANTED/EXPIRED) | SHARPS, NEEDLES/LANCETS |
| AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES | MERCURY-CONTAINING ITEMS | SMOKE DETECTORS |
| AUTOMOTIVE FLUIDS | PAINT | THERMOMETERS |
| CFLs/FLUORESCENT LIGHTS | PESTICIDES | TIRES |
| CLEANING PRODUCTS (TOXIC) | POOL & PHOTO CHEMICALS | VARNISH |
| FERTILIZERS |