Rethink Waste \\ Smart Recycling for a Greener Future

The following simple guidelines will help you recycle at home. If you don't have curbside recycling, this is the perfect way to make recycling an easy part of your daily routine.

Determine Where Materials Will Be Recycled
Decide if you want to drop your recyclables at a county Waste Transfer Station (free), set up a collection service with a local hauler (small fee), or if you want to donate the recyclables to charity, or receive payment for them.
Select a Storage Location at Home
Pick a location in your home, garage or backyard/patio that is easily accessible for everyone in your household. If your storage area is convenient, recycling becomes a daily habit. You may want to keep small recycling bins in the kitchen, pantry or closet easily accessible from the kitchen and larger bins in the backyard or patio to empty the smaller ones into through out the week or month. The frequency depends on the frequency of your visit to a WTS, collection service or donation or recycling center.
Select Storage Receptacles
Consider convenience, price, space, weight and ease of cleaning when selecting your storage containers. Stackable plastic bins, crates, boxes and grocery bags are good options. Make sure that your recycling containers are clearly labeled and/or are different in color, shape or size than your trash receptacles.
Returning Your Recyclables
You can drop off your recyclables at a variety of waste transfer stations and recycling, charitable centers, stores and business. Check earth911.org for more locations near you, or use the search function at the top of the page.
Program Maintenance
Once you've started recycling, there are a of couple tips to consider:
- Be sure to rinse containers or wipe them clean before recycling. Leaky soda cans or food containers could attract ants.
- Be sure to empty all contents from containers before storing them.
- Be sure to separate your recyclables based on the guidelines of the facility; hauler, charity or business provides you. It is recommended you separate your recyclables in the proper containers (glass in the glass container, plastics in the plastics container, etc.) to make recycling much easier and quicker at the drop-off site.
- Do not mix recyclables unless you are instructed to do so, mixing can destroy the processing equipment, and contaminate and reject an entire load of recyclables, making hundreds of residents recycling efforts pointless.