Single Stream Recycling for the Kitchen
Single Stream Recycling is an automated sorting process designed to handle non-hazardous items from your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, office and mailbox. The recyclables are then collected and transported to a material recovery facility where they are sorted and processed.
Plastic Bottles, Jugs, Tubs and Jars
Rinsed and caps on.
Plastic Bottles
Plastic bottles should be empty and rinsed out. Lids must be left on to be recycled otherwise they are too small to make it through the sorting equipment. Bottles are recycled into fleece jackets, upholstery, carpet, new bottles and more.
Plastic Spray and Pump Bottles
Empty spray and pump bottles that contained non-hazardous household cleaning products. (Pumps and caps can be left on).
Plastic Drink Jugs
Lightly rinse empty plastic milk and juice jugs. Caps can be left on.
Plastic Yogurt and Pudding Containers
Rinsed butter and yogurt cups, tubs and lids. (no foil lids).
Plastic Food Tubs
Plastic food containers rinsed.
Plastic Jars
Rinsed food jars like peanut butter and honey jars.
Glass Bottles and Jars
Glass Bottles
Rinsed glass wine, beer and soda bottles.
Glass Jars
Rinsed food jars including dressing, pickle jars, etc.
Aluminum and Steel (Tin) Cans and Foil Pans
Aluminum Cans
Rinsed aluminum drink cans (Do Not Crush) - crushed cans may become too small and fall through the sorting equipment or get mixed with the paper and cardboard. Cans are recycled into new cans, bicycle, airplane and car parts and more.
Tin Cans
Rinsed steel and tin food cans.
Aluminum Bottles
Aluminum beer and soda bottles.
Cooking Oil Cans
Rinsed metal cooking oil cans.
Foil Pans
Clean foil cooking pans and clean sheets of aluminum foil.
Kitchen Metal Spray Cans
Empty kitchen spray can contents. Leave lid on.
Cardboard Boxes, Tubes and Drink Cartons
Cardboard Food Boxes
Flattened cardboard cereal and snack boxes (remove liner bag).
Paper Towl Tubes
Cardboard paper towel tubes.
Cardboard Egg Cartons
Cardboard egg cartons (NO plastic or foam egg cartons).
Paper Bags
Clean and empty paper bags. No wax coated bags or food soiled bags.
Kitchen Garbage
No Glass Cookware
Glass cookware is a toughened glass with added chemicals which changes its melting point which cannot be recycled in the single-stream process. If in good condition, consider donating to a local thrift store or charity.
No Drinking Glasses
Drinking glasses are toughened glass with added chemicals which changes its melting point and cannot be recycled in the single-stream process. If in good condition, consider donating to a local thrift store or charity.
No Food Storage Bags
Like plastic shopping bags, these cannot be recycled in the single-stream process. They can be recycled with shopping bags at your local grocery store.
No Potato Chip / Snack Bags
These bags are not made from a material that is recyclable.
No Drink and Yogurt Pouches
Pouches are not made from a recyclable material and cannot be recycled in the single-stream process.
Recycling Options
No Plastic Trash Bags
Plastic trash bags cannot be recycled in the single-stream process. They tangle in the machinery. Please DO NOT put your recyclables in a trash bag inside your recycling cart.
No Food Storage Containers
Reusable food storage containers cannot be recycled in the single-stream process due to the varying types of plastics used in their production. If in good condition, consider donating to a local charity or thrift store otherwise they should be placed in the garbage.
No Styrofoam Clam Shells
Styrofoam products cannot be recycled in the single-stream process. Once contaminated by food they need to be placed in the garbage.
No Food Wrappers
Food wrappers and packaging cannot be recycled in the single-stream process.
No Plastic Produce / Bakery Containers
Lightweight plastic containers from the produce and bakery departments cannot be recycled in the single-stream process due to the higher melting point required to process.
No Plastic Utensils
Plastic utensils cannot be recycled in the single stream process due to their small size.
No Napkins and Paper Towels
Napkins and paper towels are too lightweight to be processed by the sorting equipment. Their fibers are also too short to recycle into new paper. They are typically contaminated with food and other waste items making them garbage.
No Paper Cups
Paper cups often have a waxy coating that prevents them from being recycled.
No K-Cup Pods
K-cup pods are made from multiple materials including coffee grounds. Even if you are able to separate the materials they are too small to navigate the sorting facilities machines.
No Paper Plates Products
Wax-coated cardboard cannot be recycled like regular corrugated cardboard. Often times these items are used with food and once contaminated need to be placed in the garbage.
No Plastic Wrap
Like plastic shopping bags, this material will get tangled in the machines at the sorting facility. Clean Plastic Wrap can be recycled with shopping bags at your local grocery store.
Plastic Film Recycling
No Metal Utensils
Metal utensils will jam the sorting facilities machines. Please consider donating these materials to a local charity or thrift store.
No Drink Lids and Straws
Drink lids and straws are not made from a recyclable plastic.
No Plastic Shopping Bags
Plastic bags cannot be processed by single-stream sorting equipment. They get tangled in the sorting equipment and cause delays due to equipment shut downs. Recycle your bags at your local grocery store.
No Metal Cookware
Metal cookware is too ridged and will jam up the sorting equipment. If in good condition, consider donating to a local thrift store or charity.
Recyclopedia