Where does it go? Search for an item. Rules vary by city, so treat this as general guidance and check your local program.
| Item | Usually goes to | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum cans | Recycling | Empty and give a quick rinse. Infinitely recyclable and very valuable. |
| Steel / tin food cans | Recycling | Rinse; labels can stay on. Lids can go in the can. |
| Glass bottles & jars | Recycling (or glass depot) | Rinse and remove lids. Not window glass, mirrors, or drinking glasses. |
| Cardboard boxes | Recycling | Flatten. Greasy pizza-box lids are best composted or thrown away. |
| Paper & newspaper | Recycling | Keep dry and clean. Shredded paper: check if your program accepts it in a paper bag. |
| Milk & juice cartons | Recycling (most areas) | Rinse and flatten. Some areas want them with containers, others with paper. |
| Plastic bottles (#1 PET, #2 HDPE) | Recycling | Empty and replace the cap. These are the most widely accepted plastics. |
| Plastic tubs & jugs | Recycling | Rinse. Check numbers; #5 (PP) is accepted in many places. |
| Plastic bags & film | Store drop-off (not curbside) | Bags jam sorting machines. Return clean, dry bags to grocery-store collection bins, or reuse them. |
| Styrofoam (polystyrene) | Garbage or special depot | Rarely accepted curbside. Avoid it where you can. |
| Takeout coffee cups | Usually garbage | Plastic lining makes most cups hard to recycle. Bring a reusable cup. |
| Pizza boxes | Compost if greasy | Clean top lid can be recycled; the greasy bottom goes to compost or garbage. |
| Food scraps | Compost / green bin | Fruit, veg, coffee grounds, eggshells. No plastic bags unless certified compostable and accepted. |
| Yard waste | Compost / yard-waste collection | Leaves, grass, small branches. |
| Batteries (household) | Hazardous waste / store drop-off | Never in garbage or recycling: they can start fires. Tape terminals on lithium batteries. |
| Phones, laptops & electronics | E-waste depot | Wipe your data first. Many stores take old electronics back. |
| Light bulbs (LED / CFL) | Hazardous waste / store drop-off | CFLs contain a small amount of mercury. |
| Paint & solvents | Hazardous waste depot | Never pour down the drain. Donate leftover paint if possible. |
| Clothing & textiles | Donate / textile bin | Wearable items to charity shops; worn-out textiles to textile-recycling bins. Do not put in recycling. |
| Aerosol cans (empty) | Recycling in many areas | Only when completely empty; otherwise hazardous waste. |
| Foil & foil trays | Recycling in many areas | Clean and scrunch into a ball bigger than a fist. |
| Receipts (thermal paper) | Garbage | Chemical coating makes them unsuitable for paper recycling. |
| Diapers | Garbage | Not recyclable or compostable in most places. |
| Broken ceramics & mirrors | Garbage | Different melting point from container glass; wrap sharp pieces safely. |
| Medication | Pharmacy take-back | Do not flush or bin them. |
| Cooking oil | Depot or sealed container to garbage | Never pour into drains. Some cities collect used oil. |
| Tires | Tire retailer or depot | Retailers usually take old tires when you buy new ones. |
| Bubble wrap & plastic mailers | Store drop-off / reuse | Often accepted with plastic bags at drop-off points. Reuse for shipping. |
| Wine corks | Cork collection / compost | Natural cork can be composted or collected by specialist programs. |
| Printer cartridges | Retailer take-back | Most office stores and manufacturers accept them. |
No item matches - when in doubt, check your local waste website.