Recycle Smart: Know What Goes In Your Recycling Cart
Picture of recycling bin
Recycling has been in the news a lot lately due to shifts in markets and international policy changes. This has left many Minnesotans wondering what is happening to the recycling placed in their bins, and what they can do now to support recycling.
The best thing you can do to support recycling is to recycle the right stuff.
Know what goes in your recycling cart
Start with the basics of what can be recycled. This includes:
· Paper: mail, office papers, magazine, newspapers
· Boxes: cardboard boxes, cereal and cracker boxes, shoe boxes, toiletry boxes
· Cartons: milk cartons, juice boxes, broth cartons
· Glass: food and beverage bottles and jars
· Plastic bottles and jugs: soda bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles
· Cups and containers: yogurt cups, clear cups, cottage cheese containers, produce containers
· Metal: food and beverage cans
Keep these items out of your recycling cart
Items that are important to leave out of your recycling cart include:
· Plastic bags
· Large plastic items
· Random metal items
· Single-use plastic utensils and straws
· Paper plates, cups, and takeout containers
· Propane tanks
· Cords and string lights
· Electronics and batteries
· Needles and sharps
These items cause problems at recycling facilities and lower the quality of our recycling.