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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Common curbside recyclables in the United States include paper and cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, and some plastic bottles, jugs, and containers. But there is no single list that applies everywhere: your city, county, or waste hauler decides what its program accepts. Check its current guide before putting an unfamiliar item in the bin.
What can I put in a curbside recycling bin?
Use this as a starting list, not a guarantee. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies these material groups as commonly recyclable, while noting that communities choose which materials their programs collect.
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| Material | Commonly accepted examples | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and cardboard | Newspapers, magazines, office paper, mail, paperboard food boxes, and corrugated cardboard | Keep it clean and dry; flatten boxes. Food-soiled paper may need to go in the trash or an accepted compost stream. |
| Metal | Empty food and beverage cans | Rinse away food residue. Other metal objects, appliances, and hazardous items may require a different collection route. |
| Glass | Food and beverage bottles and jars | Some programs do not collect glass curbside. Follow local instructions for caps and broken glass. |
| Plastic | Some bottles, jugs, jars, and containers | Accepted forms vary. A resin-identification symbol does not establish that your program takes the item. |
The EPA also lists cartons and lined paper packaging among standardized material categories, but collection can be curbside, at a drop-off, or by mail depending on the material and system. Do not assume every carton or lined package belongs in your curbside cart. See the EPA’s standardized terms for materials accepted by municipal recycling programs.
Can this item go in the recycling bin?
For an uncertain item, check three things in your local provider’s current instructions:
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- Does the program accept this material and this particular product form?
- Does it require special preparation, such as removing a cap or flattening a box?
- If it is not accepted curbside, is there a separate drop-off, household hazardous waste, or compost option?
A recycling symbol—or the fact that an item can be recycled somewhere—does not mean your local curbside program accepts it. The EPA’s advice is direct: “Do not put items in your recycling bin unless you know they are accepted.” Check the guide published by your city, county, or hauler rather than relying on a national list alone.
Why local rules matter
Even familiar materials can be treated differently. Nashville’s municipal Recycle Right guide says glass is not accepted curbside and limits accepted plastic to bottles, jars, and jugs. That is one local example, not a rule for every U.S. community.
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How should I prepare recyclables?
A useful general rule is empty, clean, dry, and loose. Follow your provider’s specific instructions if they differ.
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- Plastic, metal, and glass containers: Empty and rinse off food debris. They do not need to be spotless, but remove remaining food and liquid.
- Paper and cardboard: Keep them clean and dry. Flatten cardboard boxes. Remove food scraps from pizza boxes; the EPA notes that a pizza box may be recyclable once food scraps are removed, subject to local acceptance.
- Plastic bags and film: Do not put them loose in a curbside cart unless your local program explicitly says to. If a retailer near you offers a separate collection, confirm which bags and films it accepts.
- Bags of mixed recyclables: Do not bag items unless your program directs you to do so. A plastic bag may be collected separately through a store drop-off, but it can interfere with curbside sorting.
The EPA’s common recyclables guidance and recycling FAQs provide national preparation advice; your local provider’s instructions control what goes in your cart.
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What should not go in a mixed curbside bin?
Do not casually put food, hazardous waste, electronics, textiles, or broken glass into a mixed recycling cart. These materials may need a different route, and the right option depends on your local system.
- Food: Keep loose food out of the recycling bin. Check whether food scraps or food-soiled paper are accepted in a local compost program.
- Hazardous waste: Look for your area’s household hazardous waste collection instructions instead of putting it in the cart.
- Electronics and textiles: Check for a dedicated drop-off or collection program.
- Broken glass and other glass forms: Do not assume they are accepted with bottles and jars. Follow local disposal guidance.
- Plastic bags and film: Use a separate collection only if one is available and confirms acceptance.
Illinois EPA’s curbside bin recycling guide illustrates the distinction between curbside materials and items collected separately at stores, and notes that some glass forms are excluded.
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What do national recycling figures tell you?
National statistics provide context about waste streams, not a prediction that a particular item in your cart will be recycled. The figures below are historical U.S. data reported by the EPA:
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Paper accounted for 23 percent of municipal solid waste generated each year, according to the EPA’s common-recyclables page; that statement does not attach a year to the figure.
- In 2018, Americans recycled about 68 percent of the paper they used.
- In 2018, the United States generated more than 35 million tons of plastics, of which 8.7 percent was recycled.
- In 2018, the United States generated 12.3 million tons of glass, of which 31.3 percent was recycled.
These are national, historical figures—not current-year rates for a particular town, or evidence that every collected item becomes a new product. The EPA’s common recyclables page reports the figures and explains that local programs set their own accepted lists.
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