RecyclePA: What Is Recyclable?



Home Why Recycle? Getting Started What to Recycle Unusual Items How Recycling Works Facts and Figures Composting Do More Businesses FAQ County Information Additional Resources Contact Us	What Is Recyclable? Pennsylvania's Act 101, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Act, requires that communities with populations greater than 5,000 must have curbside recycling collection programs for at least three materials from the following list, as well as pickup of leaves and branches for composting. Most curbside recycling programs collect four or more of these materials: Clear glass containers Colored glass containers High-grade office paper Newsprint Corrugated paper Aluminum cans Steel and bi-metallic cans Plastics In general, most curbside recycling programs accept paper, glass, plastic, and cans, but you should check with your municipality to find out if your community?s program collects different materials. The best way to find out is to contact your municipality or your county recycling coordinator. If you take your recyclables to a drop-off, you may be able to recycle more types of material. You can search for a drop-off near you using the Earth 911 and Pennsylvania DEP drop-off locators. Many materials that are not accepted for curbside recycling can be taken to specialized drop-offs; for example, some grocery stores collect plastic bags for recycling. Paper Recyclable paper includes: Newspapers and inserts Office paper and computer paper Magazines and catalogs Junk mail and envelopes, including envelopes with plastic windows Telephone books Chipboard boxes (like cereal boxes) with any inside packaging removed Corrugated cardboard (the cardboard with a rippled layer sandwiched between other layers) cut and flattened to fit into the recycling bin Prepare paper for recycling by tying it in bundles or putting it in a paper bag in your recycling bin. Some programs require that different types of paper be put in separate bundles. Non-recyclable paper includes: Waxed paper Coated paper Tissue paper Pizza boxes Any other paper with food, paint, oil, or other contaminants on it Glass Recyclable glass includes: Clear, amber, and green glass from beverage bottles and food jars Prepare glass for recycling by rinsing bottles and jars and removing and discarding the lids. You do not need to remove the labels. Some recycling programs will ask that you remove and discard the metal neck rings from bottles. Some programs require that glass be separated by color; others will accept mixed glass which they separate after collection. Some glass items can damage recycling equipment or pose a threat to workers handling the recyclables. Non-recyclable glass includes: Window glass Light bulbs or fluorescent tubes Crystal Mirrors Ovenware Ceramics Broken glass Plastic Recyclable plastic includes: Containers marked with a number 1 (PET or PETE), such as soda and water bottles Containers marked with a number 2 (HDPE), such as milk jugs Prepare plastic for recycling by first checking whether it is a recyclable type of plastic. The number code will appear inside a recycling (chasing arrows) symbol, and is usually imprinted on the bottom of the container. Rinse containers, and remove and discard the lids. You can crush the bottles if you need the space. It is not necessary to remove labels. Some programs require plastics to be separated by type. Non-recyclable plastic includes Containers coded with numbers 3-7, unless your local program specifies that they are acceptable Plastic not marked with a number code Polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam) cups or packaging Clear formed food trays Flower pots or garden flats Plastic bags or stretch wrap Metal cans Recyclable metal includes Aluminum food or beverage cans, such as soda cans Steel food or beverage cans, such as soup cans Some recycling programs accept other household aluminum items, such as clean aluminum foil, pie plates, aluminum siding, and lawn furniture. Check with your local program before putting them out for recycling Some recycling programs also collect empty steel aerosol and paint cans Prepare cans for recycling by rinsing them and crushing them if you need the space. You do not need to remove the labels. Non-recyclable metal includes Pots and pans Wire hangers Window blinds Pressed or forged steel or cast iron Leaves, twigs, and garden trimmings These items should not be placed in the trash. Contact your municipal office for dates and times of pickup, or compost them yourself.
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