Expanded recycling options are now available for the East English Village community! 

As of July, there will be weekly curbside pickup of limited recyclable materials as part of a pilot program launched by DPW.  Bins will be distributed shortly as well as information from the city.  Guidelines are as follows:

The curbside pickup will accept three groups of recyclables: Metal, Paper, and Plastic

1) Metal: any type of metal including cans, wire hangers, bottle caps, tin foil, etc. 

2) Plastic:  includes all containers that are marked with #1, #2, #4, #5, #6, or #7 inside of the triangle on the bottom.  If you cannot locate a number but see a recycling symbol triangle, the item is recyclable.  If you cannot locate a number OR a recycling symbol triangle, please dispose of the item in your regular garbage.  As for plastic bags, the same rules apply.  If there is no marking, the item is not recyclable: Ziploc bags, chip bags, most bubble wrap, etc.  Examples of bags that may be recyclable are bread bags, packing material, shrink wrap, etc.  Remember that these items are only recyclable if marked as such.  However, if a bag came from the grocery store, from the dry-cleaner, or in the mail, you can assume that it is recyclable. Please take the time to look for a recycling symbol on bags as many manufacturers are getting better about marking their products for recycling.

3) Paper is accepted curbside and does not need to be presorted.  This includes newspaper, magazines, mail, school/office paper, etc.  Chipboard is also accepted; examples of which include cereal and pasta boxes.  Cardboard can be placed in the bin as long as it is ripped or cut up so it can fit within the container.  A particularly large box could be recycled slowly over a few pickups or brought to a Recycle Here! location.  It should be noted that tissue and wrapping paper are not recyclable and should instead be reused or thrown away. Paper soiled with food (like used paper plates or used paper towels) are not recyclable and should be disposed of with your regular refuse.

Labels do not need to be removed from containers.  Please be sure all food items are rinsed free of food and dry!

Packing the bin

It is important to be aware of how you place items in the bin for one simple reason: your neighbors don’t want it blown across their lawn!  Let's make sure that all of this recyclable material is picked up by the trucks and is not causing a littering problem.  Because the bins in the eastside program are traditional recycling bins, they do not have a top enclosure.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to put all paper into a brown paper bag.  Also, it would be wise to secure all recyclable plastic bags by tying them into one recyclable plastic bag, etc.  While it does not matter what order the items are placed in the bin, please be sure they are packed to keep them IN the bin! 

Recycle Here!

There are recyclable items that you will not be able to place into your recycling bins.  Therefore, we encourage you to utilize the Recycle Here! drop-off locations to responsibly recycle other materials.  Glass is one example of a material that is recyclable but cannot be collected by the curbside program.  Further, items like batteries and lightbulbs need to be disposed of in a responsible manner and are accepted at any Recycle Here! site.  It is also important to note that we do accept electronics, but only at the main site at 1331 Holden.   Because of their bulk, it is difficult to collect electronics at mobile sites.

The E. Warren and Farmbrook drop-off location will cease functioning as of July because of the establishment of the curbside pilot program.  The reason for this is that we plan to extend recycling into new sections of the city that do not currently have convenient access to recycling.  The Creekside location, at Chalmers and Jefferson, is very close and will remain open from 10 am to 2 pm on the fourth Saturday of every month.  See recyclehere.net for updated information as to the times and exact locations of the new sites.  Here is a full list of accepted materials by Recycle Here!  Items accepted only by Recycle Here! and not the curbside program are starred (*).

NEWSPAPER
The inserts can be left inside. If it comes in a newspaper, it can be recycled with the newspaper. Some of the things recycled newspapers can be made into are: Newsprint, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, telephone books, tissues, paper towel, and insulation.

MIXED PAPER
This category includes white and colored paper, envelopes, junk mail, folders, construction paper, and cardstock. Items that CAN NOT be recycled are: tissue paper, receipts, napkins, wrapping paper, and paper towel. For every ton of paper that is recycled, 17 trees are saved from being cut down.

GLOSSY PAPER
This category includes magazines, fliers, and catalogs. Glossy paper differs from other papers because it has a heavy clay coating and must be processed differently.

BOOKS
This category includes bound, hardcover, soft cover, and phone books. Magazines should not be mixed in with books, and should be placed with glossy paper. Rather than recycling your books, many libraries, used book stores, and Salvation Army's will accept your used books.

CARDBOARD & CHIPBOARD
This category includes corrugated cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, shoe boxes, Kleenex boxes, and paper grocery bags. We CAN NOT accept chipboard that is dirty with food such as paper plates, donut boxes, etc.

GLASS*
Glass must be separated into clear, brown, and green. Any other colors, such as blue or red glass, should be put in with the green glass. Labels and tops can be left on the glass, although metal tops can be recycled with the metal. Glass composites such as Plexiglas can not be recycled. Most of the glass we recycle is pulverized and used in road construction.

ALL METALS
Metals of all different kinds can be sorted together. This includes steel, iron and aluminum cans. Please make sure that your containers are rinsed. Labels do not have to be removed. Crushing cans will help save on space. Aluminum is 100% recyclable, which means none of the material is lost in the recycling process. Every time one aluminum can is recycled, enough energy is saved to power a television for about three hours (compared to mining and manufacturing a new can).

PLASTICS
Please sort your plastics according to the number found on the bottom of the container. We can accept #1 and #2 plastics together, and #4, #5, #6, and #7 plastics together. Make sure your containers are clean and rinsed; otherwise they will end up in the garbage. Tops should be removed and discarded. Any labels can be left on the container. Plastic is one of the most important items to recycle because it is made from petroleum.

STYROFOAM*
Styrofoam containers as well as Styrofoam peanuts, but the peanuts must be in a separate plastic bag from other Styrofoam. Please make sure that no food scraps are in any containers.

ASEPTIC*
This category includes orange juice, milk, soy milk, and juice box containers. The plastic tops should be removed, and the containers flattened to save space. Please make sure that all containers are rinsed to avoid unwanted odors.

BATTERIES*
Household batteries only. This includes AAA through D, 9 volt, and cell phone batteries. Please make sure that they are in a separate bag. We CAN NOT accept car batteries or any other heavy duty industrial batteries.

PLASTIC BAGS
Includes plastic grocery bags, plastic dry cleaning bags, and newspaper insert bags. We accept # 1, #2, and #4 plastic bags. Check the bottom or side of the bag to find the number. We CAN NOT accept bubble wrap, garbage bags, plastic food bags, and frozen food bags. Please make sure that your bags are clean and dry, and that receipts have been removed.

COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS*
Old computers, CD players, VCRs, and televisions are accepted. Computers and electronics in working condition can be donated to Salvation Army. We also accept cell phones and old printer cartridges, but they must be collected separate from computers and electronics.