How to recycle: a practical guide

Recycling well is a habit, not a personality type. You need three things: the list of materials your local program accepts, a way to store them cleanly, and a plan for the items that do not belong in the cart. Everything else is detail.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s How do I recycle common recyclables? page is the national overview. Reducing and reusing come first in EPA’s basics, because the least-difficult waste is the waste you do not make. This guide walks through the three Rs and then the weekly mechanics of household recycling.

Reduce

Buy what you will use. Choose products that last or that you can refill when those options are real. Plan meals so less food spoils. Cancel mail you do not want. Reduction is ordinary housekeeping; it just happens to shrink the bin.

Reuse

Finish using a product, repair it, or pass it on. Jars become storage. Clothes and furniture that are still safe to use can be donated. Reuse keeps the energy already invested in a product from being thrown away. See Eco-Friendly Living for more everyday examples.

Recycle

Recycling is the step you take when an item is at the end of its use and your program can process it. The steps below work in most U.S. curbside or drop-off systems; always defer to the printed local rules.

  1. Get the current list from your city, county, or hauler. If you cannot find it, Recycling Services and Earth911 explain how to look it up.
  2. Set up a container in the kitchen or mudroom that is easy to empty into the outdoor cart. Keep a separate can for true trash so the two do not mix.
  3. Empty and rinse bottles, jars, and cans. Flatten cardboard. Keep paper dry.
  4. Leave items loose in the cart unless your hauler requires bags. Plastic bags jam sorting equipment in many plants.
  5. Hold out special items — batteries, electronics, paint, used oil, sharps — for the right drop-off. Start with EPA’s household hazardous waste page and our material guides.
  6. When you are unsure, leave it out of the recycling cart and check. That is the core of Recycling Rules & Etiquette.

A simple sort for most kitchens

Helpful hints that prevent problems

  • Do not recycle garden hoses, hangers, or holiday lights in a mixed cart; they wrap around equipment.
  • Do not leave liquids or motor oil in a “recycling” bottle.
  • Do not assume a pizza box is accepted if the bottom is soaked with grease.
  • Do not place electronics or batteries in the cart.
  • If your cart is tagged and left behind, read the tag; it is the most local instruction you will get.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order of the three Rs?

Reduce, reuse, then recycle. EPA presents reducing and reusing first because they prevent waste before a collection truck is involved. Recycle what you cannot reduce or reuse, and only if your local program accepts the item.

How do I start if I have never recycled?

Get the accepted-materials list for your address, set up a small indoor container, and begin with the easy items your program definitely takes — often cardboard, paper, and metal cans. Add drop-offs for batteries and electronics later.

Do I need to remove every label or cap?

Follow your local list. Many programs now accept caps on empty plastic bottles; some do not. Labels on cans and bottles are usually fine. The consistent rule is to empty and rinse.

Sources and further reading

Figures and definitions in this guide come from the public sources below. Local rules still vary, so confirm with your city, county, or hauler.

For the reasons behind the habit, read Why Recycle?. For drop-off options, see Where Can I Recycle?.