What Can’t Be Recycled?

Plastic bag recycling is a bit tricky. While you can recycle them — they cannot go in most curbside recycling bins.

All plastic containers are labeled with a resin identification code (RIC) that tells you which kind of plastic it is. You can find the RIC near the chasing arrow recycling symbol.

Plastics assigned number 1 — polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), such as water bottles, soda bottles and peanut butter jars — or 2 — high-density polyethylene (HDPE), such as milk jugs, shampoo bottles and laundry detergent containers, as well as 5-gallon buckets — are typically accepted in curbside recycling. A good rule of thumb is if the neck of the container is narrower than the base, it can usually be recycled.

But numbers 3 to 7, which include the following plastic goods, are usually non-recyclable items:

You can’t recycle anything contaminated with food scraps, even if it’s paper or cardboard. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests, “‘Spatula-clean’ is clean enough to recycle!”

We know you’re probably wondering, “Are pizza boxes recyclable?” The answer is yes — as long as there isn’t food stuck to them. Some grease is OK but make sure to remove any stuck-on cheese.

Most curbside recyclers don’t accept:

• Polystyrene foam (styrofoam)
• Plastic utensils
• Cups with wax or plastic coatings, such as coated paper coffee cups
• Potato chip bags

Recycling electronics in your curbside bin is a major no-no. But similar to plastic bags, while recycling electronics curbside is a no-go, they can — and should — be recycled elsewhere. Because electronics often contain hazardous materials, they’re also typically prohibited in landfills. To dispose of them properly you’ll need to find an electronics recycling program in your area.

Review our Electronics Disposal Guide for tips on where you can donate or recycle electronics such as televisions, computers, cellphones, cameras, gaming consoles and more.

Tempted to toss an apple core or a half-eaten box of popcorn into your recycling bin? Or maybe a brown paper bag full of grass clippings? Don’t do it.

“[Another] item that cannot be added to a curbside stream are compostable products,” Brewer says. “These materials require specific conditions found at composting facilities to biodegrade fully.”

More U.S. cities are adding curbside composting to their regular trash pickups. This is where your organic waste should go if it’s offered in your area. If not, you’re in luck, because building your own compost bin is surprisingly simple.

Many non-recyclable items don’t fit neatly into a category, making it difficult to figure out what’s allowed and what’s not. If in doubt contact your local recycler, but keep these general recycling rules in mind too.

• Flexible packaging — If the package is soft and pliable, like a potato chip bag or juice pouch, it’s made from multiple materials and can’t be recycled.
• Long items that tangle easily — Garden hoses, Christmas lights, leashes and chains have one thing in common. If they make it to a recycling facility, they can seriously damage equipment and injure workers.
• Textiles — Many curbside recycling programs don’t take textiles, such as clothing, curtains and sleeping bags. If you have fabric items in good condition, consider donating them. Even if they’re not usable, many communities offer specialized textile recycling services.
• Scrap metal — Most scrap metal is recyclable — just not in your curbside bin. In many cases, you can recycle scrap metal for cash payments at a local scrap yard.
• Shredded or colored paper —While shredded paper is technically recyclable, it’s too small to sort and may get stuck in machinery or end up on the floor at the processing center. You may be able to find a local recycling resource that accepts shredded paper or you can use it in your homemade compost bin. Colored paper isn’t accepted because it will release its color, contaminating other items.

You may also wonder why sometimes it appears as though your recycling is being picked up by a garbage truck. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean it’s going to the dump, so don’t let this keep you from recycling as much as you can.

“One of the biggest misconceptions from homeowners and consumers is that their curbside recycling is going straight to a landfill,” Brewer says. “This happens because the trucks for trash and recycling look the same, or sometimes are the same, and consumers think it is all going to the same place. Trash trucks are expensive, and some communities may use the same truck to pick up the trash and then later pick up recycling.”

Recycling rules vary by city and town because there is no federal recycling program. The approximately 20,000 communities in the U.S. decide for themselves what can and can’t be recycled in each area. So, while some items can’t be recycled anywhere, your town’s rules on what not to recycle might be different from the recycling rules of the next town over.

Decisions about recycling rules — and the success of any given recycling program — ultimately fall not only to state and city officials but also to recyclers, haulers and product manufacturers, along with members of the community.

The take-home message here is when in doubt, contact your local recycling program to find out about items that cannot be recycled.