Why Curbside Recycling Rules Vary

One of the most common sources of recycling confusion is that curbside programs differ from city to city — and even between neighborhoods in the same county. What gets accepted depends on which materials recovery facility (MRF) processes your recyclables and what markets exist for those materials. Despite the variation, there are widely accepted guidelines that apply to most programs.

What Is Generally Accepted

The following materials are accepted by the vast majority of curbside programs in North America and Europe:

Paper and Cardboard

  • Flattened cardboard boxes (break them down to save space)
  • Newspapers, magazines, and office paper
  • Paper bags and paper packaging
  • Cardboard egg cartons

Plastics

Look for the resin code (the number inside the recycling triangle) on plastic items. Most programs accept:

  • #1 PET — Water and soda bottles, salad dressing containers
  • #2 HDPE — Milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles
  • #5 PP — Yogurt containers, some take-out containers

Glass

Glass bottles and jars (clear, brown, and green) are accepted by many programs, though some have moved glass to drop-off-only due to breakage at sorting facilities. Always rinse before placing in the bin.

Metals

  • Aluminum cans and foil (when clean)
  • Steel and tin food cans
  • Empty aerosol cans (caps removed)

Common Items That Should NOT Go in the Recycling Bin

Wishful recycling — putting items in the bin and hoping they'll be recycled — actually contaminates entire loads and costs facilities money. Here's what to keep out:

  • Plastic bags and film: These tangle in sorting machinery. Return them to grocery store drop-offs instead.
  • Greasy pizza boxes: Oil contaminates paper recycling. The lid (if clean) can be recycled; the greasy bottom should go in compost or trash.
  • Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene): Rarely recyclable curbside — check for dedicated drop-off programs.
  • Wax-coated cups and cartons: Lined paper products require special processing not available at most MRFs.
  • Broken glass: A safety hazard for sorting workers — wrap and place in trash.
  • Tanglers: Hoses, cords, wire, and chains jam equipment and should never go in a recycling bin.

The Golden Rules of Recycling

  1. When in doubt, leave it out. Contamination is a bigger problem than losing one recyclable item.
  2. Rinse, don't wash. Containers should be empty and rinsed — spotless clean is not required.
  3. No bagging recyclables. Loose items sort better than bagged ones; plastic bags themselves are contaminants.
  4. Check local guidelines. Your local sanitation authority's website or app is the most reliable source for what's accepted.

How to Find Your Local Program Rules

Search your city or county government website for "recycling guidelines" or "what goes in my bin." Many municipalities now offer sorting apps or searchable databases where you can type in an item and get an immediate answer. The EPA's Recycle Right campaign also provides useful general guidance.

Understanding the rules of your local program is one of the most impactful things you can do to improve recycling effectiveness in your community.