Recycling Tips & Guidelines

What Can Go in the Curbside Recycling Bin?

The golden rule of curbside recycling: when in doubt, leave it out. Adding non-recyclables doesn't help — it contaminates entire truckloads and can result in materials being landfilled anyway. Here is a reliable guide to common materials:

Yes — Curbside Recyclable

• Aluminum cans and clean aluminum foil
• Steel and tin cans (soup, vegetable, pet food cans)
• Glass bottles and jars (clear, green, brown) — check local program
• Plastic bottles and jugs labeled #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE)
• Cardboard — flattened, clean, and dry
• Paper: office paper, newspaper, magazines, mail, paperboard
• Cartons: milk cartons, juice boxes (empty and rinsed)

No — Keep These Out of the Bin

• Plastic bags and plastic film of any kind
• Styrofoam (cups, takeout containers, packing peanuts)
• Greasy or food-soiled cardboard and paper
• Pizza boxes with grease (recycle clean top only)
• Shredded paper (loose) — compost or bag separately
• Broken glass — safety hazard for sorting workers
• Electronics — see e-waste section below
• Medical waste, syringes, or sharps
• Aerosol cans that are not fully empty
• Ceramics, pottery, and Pyrex

Preparing Your Recyclables

Properly prepared materials are more valuable and less likely to be rejected at the processing facility. Follow these preparation steps before putting materials in the bin:

1. Empty containers completely. Liquids can contaminate other materials in the bin, especially paper products.
2. Rinse containers. A quick rinse under the tap is sufficient — you don't need hot water or soap unless the container is exceptionally greasy.
3. Remove non-recyclable parts. A plastic pump dispenser on a cardboard soap box needs to be removed before recycling the cardboard.
4. Flatten cardboard boxes. Breaking down boxes saves space in your bin and on the collection truck, lowering collection costs for everyone.
5. Keep recyclables loose in the bin — do not bag them in plastic bags, even clear ones. Bagged recyclables are often treated as trash at sorting facilities.
6. Labels and caps are fine. You do not need to remove labels from bottles or caps from containers — the sorting and processing equipment handles those.

Composting: The Fourth R

Food scraps and yard waste make up roughly 30% of what households throw away, yet they are among the most valuable materials for composting. Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, where it would generate methane — a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Instead, compost enriches garden soil, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and improves plant health.

Starting a backyard compost pile is simpler than most people expect. You need two types of materials: "greens" (nitrogen-rich items like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and fresh grass clippings) and "browns" (carbon-rich items like dry leaves, cardboard, paper bags, and straw). Aim for roughly a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens by volume. Keep the pile moist but not soaked, and turn it periodically to introduce oxygen and speed decomposition.

See our composting image resource for more: Hands-On Composting Guide.

Recycling at Schools

Schools are powerful levers for community-wide recycling culture. When students learn correct recycling habits at school, they reinforce those habits at home — creating a generational shift in waste reduction. EG Trash & Recycle Services supports school recycling programs throughout our service area by providing bins, signage, and periodic waste audits to help schools understand and improve their diversion rates.

Interested in starting a recycling program at your school? Visit our School Recycling Program page or call (706) 555-0100 to speak with our community outreach coordinator.

Special Materials Guide

Not everything fits neatly in a blue bin. Here is guidance for common special materials:

• Plastic bags: Return to grocery store drop-off bins. Never put in curbside bin.
• Batteries: Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D) can go in regular trash in Georgia. Rechargeable batteries must be recycled — drop off at the SWCC facility.
• Light bulbs: LED and incandescent bulbs go in regular trash (not recyclable). CFL bulbs contain mercury and must be recycled — drop off at hardware stores or the SWCC.
• Clothing and textiles: Donate usable clothing to thrift stores. Unusable textiles can go to textile recycling bins at many retailers.
• Motor oil: Many auto parts stores accept used motor oil for recycling — free of charge.
• Tires: Drop off at the SWCC facility. A small fee applies. Tire recyclers use old rubber for playground surfaces, athletic tracks, and road materials.
• C&D debris: Construction and demolition materials like concrete, wood, drywall, and metals are often recyclable. See our C&D Debris Recyclers guide.