Recycling Update

Recycling/Recovery Program Expands
http://www.monroecounty.gov/des-residentialrecycling.php

For almost 20 years, Monroe County residents have enjoyed a progressive, convenient and continually expanding curbside recycling program. As is its charge from the county, Cascades Recovery, the Monroe County Recycling Center’s (MCRC) contract operator, examines the waste stream for sustainable recovery opportunities. In 2004, the MCRC began accepting all clean paper--allowing county residents to make a clear and affirmative impact on our local environment. The MCRC will now accept plastic containers numbered one through seven for recycling/recovery. Additionally, aluminum foil, foilware and household metal pots and pans will be accepted for recycling. Customers of the MCRC may now rest assured that their yogurt cups and margarine tubs will stay in North America and be recycled into sustainable end-products. Click here for a listing of new items accepted by the MCRC.
http://www.monroecounty.gov/File/DES/MCCurbsideRecyclingRecoveryReferenceCard.pdf
Some waste haulers are not customers of the MCRC and are not required to participate in this recycling expansion. Customers should contact their hauler to confirm what is accepted.


The MCRC “Blue Box” Recycling/Recovery Program

The following commingled and paper materials should be placed in your recycling box and taken to the curb before 6:30 a.m. on your regular trash collection day. If high winds are forecast on your collection day, please delay recycling. White goods (major appliances) are also required to be recycled by Monroe County law--contact your waste hauler for details.

Commingled Materials

Only the materials listed below are accepted for recycling/recovery. All containers should be clean and placed loosely on the top of paper items in your recycling bin (use two bins to separate paper from commingled materials, if possible). Please do not separate the types of containers using plastic grocery bags—they should all be mixed together. Labels are accepted.

Metal Food and Beverage Cans: lids are accepted.
License Plates: defaced
Metal Pots, Pans and Aluminum Foilware
EMPTY Aerosol Cans: remove caps. NO pesticides or spray paints.
Plastic Containers and Items (#s 1 through 7): including CD cases, broken recycling bins, clamshell or blister packaging, flatware, etc.--remove and recycle caps, spray pumps and lids.
No styrofoam, prescription bottles, bags or product wrapping.
Glass Bottles and Jars: Clear, Green and Brown ONLY—remove and recycle all lids and caps.
No drinking glasses, window glass, etc.
Gable Top (Milk and Juice) Cartons and Drink/Soup Boxes: remove and throw away plastic straws.


Paper Materials

Place paper materials in the bottom of your recycling box. Paper items may be kept together by using a brown paper bag (except for holding shredded paper, do not use plastic bags). Almost any kind of clean paper product can be placed in the recycling bin (NO soiled papers, paper toweling or wet paper).

Some examples:

Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, etc.
Corrugated Cardboard: flattened, 2x4 feet maximum—if you have a large stack of flattened boxes, it should be tied together with string or twine.
Phone Directories
Paper Boxes—cereal, cracker, soda, tissue, shoe, gift, toy, etc.: flatten box and recycle any plastic liners at grocery store with other plastic bags.
Pizza Boxes & Paper Egg Cartons: discard all contents and flatten.
Junk Mail, Advertisements and Brochures
Home Office Paper, Files, School Papers, etc.: shredded paper in clear plastic bags only.
All Envelopes: window envelopes too!
Paperback and Hardcover Books
Gift Wrap
and More!


Plastic Bags/Wrap - What and Where Can You Recycle?

Except to contain shredded paper (clear bags), plastic bags and wrap are not allowed in your curbside recycling bin. A recent county residential waste characterization study found that eight percent of household garbage was made up of plastic bags or wrap--much of which could be recycled. New York law requires that major retailers that offer plastic bags for purchases take them back for recycling. Many other kinds of plastic bags/wrap should also be included. Please click here http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/plasticbag/s01_consumers.html for a listing of what can and cannot be returned to the store for recycling. If you would like a downloadable guide to plastic bag and product wrapping recycling, click here. http://www.monroecounty.gov/File/DES/Plastic%20Bag-Film%20Recycling.pdf


Reduce Junk Mail

Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by calling the following toll-free number: 1-888-567-8688.


New or Replacement Recycling Bins

In order to obtain a new or replacement recycling bin, homeowners must call their garbage collector. City of Rochester residents should call 585 428-5990.


Material the County’s “Blue Box” Program Does Not Include

How to recycle (or properly dispose of) items not covered by the “blue box” program.
Click here http://www.monroecounty.gov/File/DES/2011%20Non-Blue%20Box%20Program%20Materials1.pdf for a searchable list of materials that cannot be placed in the curbside recycling bin, but that have programs for recycling (or proper disposal). Some of these items include:

Aerosol Cans (full or partially full)
Appliances Containing Freon (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers)
Asbestos
Automotive Care Items (vehicle batteries, motor oil and other fluids)
Batteries
Business (hazardous) Waste
Cellular Phones
Computer/E-Waste Recycling/Disposal
Confidential Paper
Electronic Data Storage Media (and its packaging)
Fluorescent Lamps/Ballasts
F.O.G. - Fats/Oils/Grease
Mercury
Metals (Scrap)
Metal Tanks (propane, fire extinguishers, helium, fuel oil, etc.)
Microwave Ovens
Plastic Grocery Bags and Product Wrapping
Printer Cartridges
Sharps (syringes, lancets, etc.)
Smoke Detectors
Styrofoam Packaging
Tires
Unwanted/Usable Products
Wire Coat Hangers