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Keep These 8 Items Out of Your Recycling Bin to Prevent Recycling Contamination
Discover eight common items that cannot be recycled — from greasy pizza boxes to plastic bags — so you can help prevent recycling contamination.Byline: BTB Editor
May 17, 2024 / Time to read: 3 minutesWhile many of us have the best intentions about recycling, we aren’t always doing it right. The clothes hanger that came with your new outfit? It may be made of plastic, but that doesn’t mean it’s recyclable.
Many people will toss items like hangers in their recycling bin, hoping they can be recycled. This is called “
Here are the most common recycling contaminants according to Republic Services recycling managers.
Plastic Bags
Keep your recyclables loose and never bag them.
To dispose of plastic bags, return them to the store where you got them,
Toys
Though many toys are made of plastic, they generally can’t be recycled. Toys are often made of multiple components, like metal or rubber, in addition to plastic. Donate toys for reuse, or dispose of them in your trash.
Electronic toys (aka, anything that makes noise, moves or lights up) should never be placed in your curbside trash or recycling. Many of them contain
Clothing
Like toys, clothing can be reused — but not recycled in curbside collection bins. That’s because clothes are made from a combination of fibers and components like tags and zippers that make it difficult to sort for effective recycling. Many items are made from non-recyclable or non-renewable resources like
Instead of recycling, give away unwanted clothing via a
Furniture and Mattresses
Don’t place your furniture in curbside recycling. Materials like painted or varnished wood, leather and foam padding are difficult to separate and recycle properly. Instead, take all-metal furniture pieces to a scrap metal facility for recycling. Mattresses must be dismantled and the components recycled or disposed of separately — contact a local Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul location to ask if they will accept used mattresses for recycling.
In most cases, the best option for used furniture is to give it away, sell or donate it for reuse. Items that are too old to reuse and too large to fit in your waste container are considered bulk waste, so check with your local waste provider to see if they can help you dispose of it through
Disposable Diapers
Eww! Clean or dirty, disposable diapers can’t be recycled.
These different layers (and the obvious yuck inside the used ones) make diapers difficult to sort for effective recycling. Always dispose of them in the trash.
Pizza Boxes
Clean
If the top half of your pizza box is oil- and food-free, you can tear it off, recycle that part and throw away the rest.
Foam Takeout Containers
Foam containers are made of polystyrene foam — often called Styrofoam® — and are not recyclable. All foam products, from
Yard Debris
Grass clippings, leaves and branches should go in a dedicated yard waste container, or in your trash can.
Throw It Out
Living sustainably isn’t just about recycling but also what we recycle — and what we don’t. Everyday items like greasy pizza boxes or plastic bags can hinder the recycling process rather than help. Keeping these items out — and helping prevent recycling contamination — makes recycling programs more efficient and helps protect the planet.
If you’re unsure whether something can be recycled, it’s better to put it in the trash can. Remember: When in doubt, throw it out. And for more simple recycling guidelines and tips, visit
