Recycle Right

Nearly 30% of items collected from our curbside recycling program end up back in the landfill. These items, which are not recyclable or not accepted in our recycling program, are collectively known as "contamination." These include items such as plastic bags, garden hoses, clothes hangers, clothing and blankets, garden soil, carpets, car batteries and bicycle parts. 

You can help us cut down on the amount of contamination in our recycling stream by following the guidelines below: 

  • Place all materials LOOSE in your bin or cart. Do not bag them. Bagged items are taken to the landfill.
  • Make sure all bottles, cans and jars are empty, clean and dry. A quick rinse should do for most items. However, containers with thick or sticky substances such as sour cream, chili, peanut butter or spaghetti sauce need to be cleaned thoroughly.
  • Remember: Big Blue is for trash. Big Green is for recycling. Please do not use your Big Green recycling cart for regular household trash, yard waste or construction trash.

Recycling DOs and DON'Ts

A graphic showing what items are accepted in our recycling program.

 

Graphic with multiple photos of items that are NOT collected in Oklahoma City's recycling program. These include plastic bags, hoses and cords, clothing and textiles, metal products, landscape waste and styrofoam.

Click on the + to see specifics below:

Paper

Recycle these: regular household or office paper including magazines, newspaper, direct mail, coupons, office paper, statoinery, spiral notebooks (remove spiral), notepads, phone books, paperback books. 

Trash These: paper towels, toilet paper, paper napkins, tissue paper, paper plates, coffee cups, disposable diapers or any paper good that is wet or stuck with food residue, toxins, human waste, oil or grease.

FYI: Paper towels, napkins, paper plates and coffee cups all contain chemical additives meant to help keep the structure of the paper when exposed to liquids. As a result, these items don't break down well and the fibers cannot be used in other paper goods.

Plastic

Recycle these: Food and bathroom bottles, tubs and containers - empty, clean and dry.

  • Milk, juice, pop and water bottles,
  • Picnic cups and plates (rinse off food)
  • Yogurt, dairy and margarine tubs
  • Shampoo and conditioner bottles
  • Detergent, fabric softener bottles
  • Prescription vials - emptied
  • Spray bottles with regular household cleaners (not hazardous waste)

TOSS THESE: plastic grocery or film bags, bread or newspaper/magazine wrappings, kitchen wrap or bubble wrap, cereal bags, pet food or other flexible bags, garden hoses, string lights, household storage containers, or CD cases, and plastic party goods such as "Red" or other-colored cups, and plastic forks, knives, spoons, etc.

FYI: Many big box or grocery stores accept plastic film bags for recycling. Check for drop-off bins at the front of the stores. Many types of film plastic (bags, bread wraps, etc.) can be recycled, but they are not accepted in OKC's program.  

 

GLASS

DO RECYCLE glass bottles and jars - empty, clean and dry

DO NOT recycle window or automotive glass, mirrors, ceramics, heat-resistant kitchen glass (e.g. glass bakeweare and measuring cup), wine glasses, light bulbs or nail polish bottles

 

Aluminum and Steel Cans

DO RECYCLE:

  • Aluminum cans: soda, beer and other beverage cans
  • Aluminum foil and bakeware
  • Soup, fruit and vegetable, coffee and pet food cans

DON'T RECYCLE: Automotive parks, scrap metal, garage door panels, propane tanks, metal hangers or pots and pans.

Cardboard

Make sure cardboard is clean, flattened and free from food residue and grease. Remove liners from cardboard boxes and put in Big Blue. 

  • Cereal, cracker and other food boxes (throw away liners)
  • Shipping and delivery boxes (break down and flatten).

Pizza boxes - remove any cheese or food residue. Some grease is okay, but recycle top only if there is excess grease on bottom.

 

Paper Cartons (aka Paperboard)

Empty rinse and drain:

  • Dairy milk, nut milk and juice cartons
  • Coated and non-coated frozen food boxes

 

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