greenHILLhome: Recycling Reminders

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We all know our curbside recycling picks up aluminum cans, plastic bottle, newspapers, and glass jelly jars, but DC’s residential recycling program is far broader than these basic elements we started collecting years ago.  Some conversations within our home and with neighbors made me think it was a good idea to check the Department of Public Works recycling program website for a reminder on what is allowed in the weekly collections.

Among the items that you may not be recycling yet:

• plastic bags, including newspaper sleeves and grocery bags (though if you paid the nickel tax on your bags consider reusing them to get your money’s worth);
• aerosol cans;
• books, including hardcovers;
• milk and juice cartons (yes, the cardboard ones);
• rigid plastic items, including toys, lawn furniture (that pink flamingo you didn’t know what to do with), buckets, and flower pots;
• junk mail (catalogs, inserts, envelopes, etc.).

Also, note all plastics that are coded with numbers 1 through 7 are collected.  I know in other places I have lived the types of plastics collected were far fewer.

All your recyclables can go out to the curb together in your snazzy blue recycling bin.   If your recycling is starting to outgrow your blue bin size as ours does each week, call the citywide call center at 311 to request a second container.  (We did this over a month ago though, and are still awaiting delivery of a second recycling bin.  I called this week and found out the city is awaiting a delivery of new blue bins so all requests are on hold pending delivery from the supplier.)  The materials are sorted at a materials recycling facility and tours of these facilities can be arranged through the DPW.