What belongs in each cart?
Commonly disposed of items are included in the alphabetized list below. The color-coding indicates proper sorting. Contact us for information regarding any unlisted item. Proper sorting makes a difference. Avoid contamination by sorting your recyclables properly.
Key
Items in gray belong in the garbage container.
Items in green belong in the organics container.
Items in blue belong in the recycling container.
Items in red are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. Click here for proper disposal instructions.
| 6-pack rings (please cut) | fruit | pressurized tanks |
| aerosol cans (empty) | fruit baskets (plastic, and if labeled 1-7) | printers |
| aluminum cans | glass bottles & jars only | prunings |
| aluminum foil | glass cups & glasses | Q-tips (with paper or wooden wands) |
| aluminum pans | grains | Q-tips (with plastic wand) |
| aseptic containers | grass cuttings | records/tapes/CDs |
| ash, fireplace & BBQ (damp, cold and contained) | grocery bags (paper) | report covers (plastic) |
| batteries | hangers (dry cleaners will take back hangers) | rubber bands |
| binders (plastic) | hardbound books | rubber stamps |
| bleach bottles (empty) | hose (garden or rubber) | rubber/neoprene |
| bones | houseplants | rugs/mats |
| boxes (shipping) | ice cream cartons (rinsed) | salad dressing bottles |
| bread | ice cream sticks (wooden) | sawdust |
| bubble wrap | ice cream wrappers (plastic) | scrap metal |
| cactus | juice bottles | shampoo bottles |
| candles | junk mail | sharps |
| cans, food (bi-metal/tin) | lancets | shoe boxes |
| camp stove fuel tanks | laminated items | shrubs |
| carbon paper | leaves | smoke detectors |
| carbonless paper | light bulbs (no fluorescent) | soft drink bottles |
| cardboard (flatten/cut large or multiple boxes) | lye | soup boxes |
| catalogs | magazines | soy milk boxes |
| CDs | meat | sponges |
| cello wrap around flower bouquets | medications | straws/stir sticks (plastic) |
| cereal | metal cable wire | stuffed animals/toys (unwanted or can't be donated) |
| cereal boxes | metallic wrapping paper | styrofoam |
| CFL lightbulbs | milk cartons (paper, rinsed) | tape: duct/masking/scotch |
| cheese | mirrors | tea bags/tea bags with staples |
| chewing gum | nails | television (tv) |
| chopsticks (wooden) | needles | tempered glass (corning ware, pyrex) |
| ceramics (including tile) | newspaper (food-soiled) | textiles |
| cleaning products (toxic) | newspaper (including inserts) | thermometers |
| coffee cups (paper) | nylon | toothpaste tubes |
| coffee grounds | packing peanuts (to take to shipping stores) | transparencies/microfilm/negatives (acctate) |
| coffee filters (paper) | paint | tree twigs and branches up to 6" in diameter |
| computer hard drives/peripherals | paint cans (empty latex) | trees (holiday, unflocked) |
| computer monitors | paint remover | tub-type containers such as those used for yogurt, cottage cheese, and margarine if labeled 1-7 |
| computer paper | paper (adhesive/post-its) | utensils (plastic) |
| cookie sheets | paper clips | vacuum bags |
| cosmetics containers with residue | paper packaging with remnant tape | varnish |
| cotton balls (soiled) | paper take-out cartons without metal handles | vegetables |
| computer diskettes | paper towel & toilet paper tubes | water jugs |
| dairy products | paper used for cleaning (soiled) | waxed cardboard |
| deodorant casing | pasta | waxed paper (food-soiled) |
| detergent bottles | pencils with erasers | waxed paper containers/cups |
| diapers | pens (ink) | weeds |
| drink boxes (juice) | pesticides | window glass |
| egg cartons (paper) | pet feces | wine corks |
| egg shells | pizza boxes (leftover pizza) | wood (treated) |
| electronics | phone books | wood (uncoated, untreated) |
| e-waste | photo chemicals | yard waste |
| envelopes with metal clasps | plants (plastic) | |
| facial tissue | plastic bags - BAGGED (place multiple pieces in one bag and tie off) | |
| fax machines | plastics (unmarked or not marked with a 1-7) | |
| feminine products | plastics labeled 1-7 | |
| fertilizers | plastic wrap | |
| flowers | poisons | |
| fluorescent lightbulbs | polystryrene | |
| foam (all types) | pool chemicals | |
| frozen food boxes | pots & pans |