How and What to Recycle in Monroe County

The following containers, paper materials and license plates (defaced) should be placed in your recycling box and taken to the curb on your regular trash collection day.

Only the containers listed below are accepted for recycling. All containers should be rinsed and placed loosely on the top of paper items in your recycling bin. Please do not separate the types of containers using plastic grocery bags—they should all be mixed together. Labels are accepted.

• Metal Food and Beverage Cans: lids are accepted.
• EMPTY Aerosol Cans: remove and throw away caps. NO pesticides or spray paints.
• Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars (1 & 2 ONLY): remove and throw away caps, spray pumps and lids. No motor oil containers.
• Glass Bottles and Jars: Clear, Green and Brown ONLY—remove and throw away all lids and caps. No drinking glasses, window glass, etc.
• Gable Top (Milk & Juice) Cartons and Drink Boxes: remove and throw away plastic straws.
  

Paper items may be kept together by using a brown paper bag (except for holding shredded paper, do not use plastic bags). Almost any kind of clean paper product can be placed in the recycling bin. NO soiled papers, paper toweling or wet paper.

Some examples:

• Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, etc.
• Corrugated Cardboard: flattened, 2x4 feet maximum—if you have a large stack of flattened boxes, it should be tied together with string or twine.
• Phone Directories
• Paper Boxes—cereal, cracker, soda, tissue, shoe, gift, toy, etc.: discard plastic liners and flatten.
• Pizza Boxes: discard all contents and flatten.
• Junk Mail, Advertisements & Brochures
• Home Office Paper, Files, School Papers, etc.: shredded paper in clear plastic bags only.
• All Envelopes: window envelopes too!
• Paperback & Hardcover Books
• Gift Wrapand More!
  

To learn about other programs available in Monroe County such as grass recycling, composting, household hazardous waste, and electronics recycling visit our website at www.monroecounty.gov. For any questions, please contact your garbage hauler or call Monroe County Department of Environmental Services 753 -7600.