Recyclable at the Curb, Mixed Together:
- All recyclable materials must be loose for collection. No bagged recyclables!
- Empty plastic bottles, tubs, jars and jugs (plastic lids may be left on empty plastic containers)
- Empty glass jars and bottles (with metal lids removed from glass containers)
- Aluminum and steel food and beverage containers, such as soup cans and sardine tins
- Empty aerosol cans
- Cartons and liquid boxes—such as milk/soy/rice milk cartons and juice boxes (not juice pouches)
- Basic household and office papers such as:
- Magazines, newspapers, catalogs, junk mail and envelopes
- Books (including paperbacks, hardbacks and telephone books)
- Corrugated cardboard (boxes do not have to be broken down or bundled)
- Greeting cards and gift wrap without glitter and foil
- Paperboard boxes (such as cracker and cereal boxes without liners)
Items Not Accepted for Curbside Recycling Include:
- Plastic bags (All bags are being phased out of the single-stream recycling industry nationwide. Please return them to retail store collection bins.)
- Shredded paper is not recyclable in our program (Not even bagged. No shredded paper!)
- Aluminum foil
- Any container that is not empty
- Disposable cups, plates or cutlery (including Solo, fast food or coffee cups)
- Hinged plastic containers, such as for produce, bakery or takeout foods
- Rotisserie chicken containers and any microwaveable/heat-resistant plastics
- Potato chip / snack food bags
- Plastic or foil candy and food wrappers, such as granola bar wrappers, etc.
- Box liner bags, such as for cereal or crackers
- Juice pouches
- Bubble wrap
- No polystyrene (Styrofoam™) of any kind
- Clothing and textiles
- Drinking glasses
- Plates, cups or cutlery of ANY kind (ceramic, paper or plastic)
- Hazardous material containers (such as for pesticides, motor oil or antifreeze)
- Low-grade paper, such as tissues and napkins/paper towels (even if “clean”)
- Soiled paper products (such as used paper plates or greasy pizza boxes)
- Metallic or glittery paper, bags, wrapping paper or cards
- Mirrors, window glass, light bulbs
- Pots, pans and other household metals (curbside recycling is meant to collect packaging metal only, such as cans.)
- Rubber, PVC or vinyl products (such as hoses, tires, shower curtains, PVC pipes, etc.)
- Anything that will get tangled in the sorting machinery, such as cords, chain, string, twine, hoses, etc.
If you would like to know whether or not a specific item is recyclable, check the Recycle Coach app, or, the Office of Recycling can be reached by phone at 301-600-2960, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or by
email.