That blue bin at the curb feels like a promise. Toss it in, and it becomes something new. Unfortunately, it does not always work that way.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that putting items in the bin that cannot be recycled can contaminate the recycling stream. The agency’s frequent questions about recycling says non-recyclable items can contaminate a whole load of recyclables, causing them all to be thrown out.
The same page says they can also damage equipment and must be sorted out and sent to landfills, which raises costs. With that in mind, here are 8 everyday items that deserve a second look before they hit the bin.
None of these are meant to scold anyone. They are simply the spots where good intentions most often trip up, according to the agencies that deal with the problem.
Plastic Bags And Wrap Belong At The Store Drop-Off, Not In The Bin
The EPA says plastic bags and wraps generally cannot go in a curbside recycling bin. It adds that many grocery and department stores accept plastic bags and wrap or film, and to cut off any zippers before dropping them off.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, in its October 2023 GREENWorks newsletter, explains why. Bags and trash bags cannot be processed like plastic bottles or containers, and they cause equipment jams that slow the recycling process.
A Greasy Pizza Box Can Spoil Clean Recyclables
The EPA lists food or food-soiled paper among the items to keep out of the recycling bin. It also notes that wet or food-soiled paper products may be compostable.
New Hampshire’s environmental agency says grease soaks into cardboard, and food residue can contaminate clean recyclables and lower the quality of recycled products. The same newsletter suggests rinsing items like plastic bottles, peanut butter jars, yogurt tubs and cat food cans before recycling them.
A good rule of thumb from the EPA page: when in doubt, ask. Your local solid waste agency or recycling facility sets the final rules for your bin.
Old Electronics Need A Different Home Than The Curb
That dusty old phone charger and the broken radio have a different path. The EPA states that, generally, electronics cannot go in a curbside recycling bin.
Because rules differ from place to place, the agency points people to their local solid waste agency or recycling facility to learn what is accepted.
Worn-Out Clothes And Linens Are Not Curbside Material Either
Textiles land on the same EPA list. The agency says plastic bags and wraps, electronics and textiles generally cannot go in a curbside recycling bin.
That means the stained towels and torn sheets in your linen closet need another plan. Your local recycling facility can tell you what options exist in your community.
Batteries Are Treated As Household Hazardous Waste
The EPA includes batteries among its examples of household hazardous waste, along with light bulbs and aerosol cans that are not empty. It says the rules depend on your local solid waste agency or recycling facility, and it points readers to local household hazardous waste collection.
So the drawer of dead batteries should wait for a collection event or drop-off site rather than the curb.
Light Bulbs, Especially Broken Ones, Do Not Go In The Bin
Light bulbs show up on that same EPA hazardous waste list. The agency adds a firm warning that broken light bulbs should not go in the recycling or in the regular garbage stream.
Ask your local solid waste office where bulbs can be taken in your area.
Aerosol Cans Are Only Welcome When They Are Empty
The EPA lists aerosol cans that are not empty as household hazardous waste. In plain terms, that half-full can of spray paint or hairspray belongs with the collection program, not the blue bin.
Check your local rules for what to do with empty cans, since the agency says acceptance depends on the local facility.
Broken Glass And Syringes Are A Safety Matter
The EPA says most curbside programs accept different glass colors and types mixed together, although glass may not be accepted in some areas. Broken glass is a different story: the agency says syringes, broken glass and broken light bulbs should not go in the recycling or in the regular garbage stream.
Wrap and handle broken pieces carefully, and call your local waste agency to ask how they want it handled.
The common thread is the habit New Hampshire’s agency calls wish-cycling: putting in anything you are not sure is recyclable, which wastes time and resources at facilities that must pull those items back out. The EPA’s advice is easy to remember. Do not put items in your recycling bin unless you know they are accepted.
Take five minutes to look up your own town’s list, and tape it inside the pantry door. The EPA also says paper materials must be empty, clean and dry before they are recycled, so a quick shake and a rinse go a long way.
A little care at the curb protects the workers and machines downstream, and it keeps your good efforts from ending up in the landfill anyway.
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