Recycling Dos and Don'ts

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Nearly 30% of items collected from our residential curbside recycling program end up in back at the landfill. That’s because they either cannot be recycled or aren't accepted in the City's curbside recycling program.

These unwanted items are called "contamination," and include things such as plastic bags, garden hoses, clothes hangers, clothing and blankets, garden soil, carpets, car batteries and bicycle parts. 

You can cut down on contamination by following these guidelines: 

  • Keep it loose! Put recyclables directly into your Big Green cart—no bags. Bagged items end up in the landfill.
  • Quality over quantity. A few clean recyclables are better than a full cart of wrong ones.
  • Empty, clean, and dry. Give bottles, cans, and jars a quick rinse then let them dry. For heavier fare like peanut butter, mayonnaise or chili, clean items thoroughly.
  • Know your carts. Big Blue = trash. Big Green = recycling only. No yard waste, construction debris, or regular trash.
  • Forget about numbers. Many people assume numbers on the bottom of an item mean that item is accepted in the City's recycling program, but that's not always true. Some products can share the same number as items that we do accept in our program, even though we cannot process them. 
  • Recycle by room. Most recyclables come from the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room—like margarine tubs, shampoo or detergent bottles.
  • Don’t “wish-cycle.” If you’re not sure it’s recyclable, it’s safer to toss it in the trash. Remember: "When in doubt, throw it out!"

Still not sure?

Focus on what we call the "Big Six" using our "Dos and Don'ts" list below, or for a deeper dive, use our "What Goes Where" online database to give your recycling know-how a boost!

Image of Big 6 recycling poster highlighting all of the accepted recycling categories and the top contamination categories.

 

Click on the + to see specifics below:

Paper

Recycle these: regular household or office paper including magazines, newspaper, direct mail, coupons, office paper, stationery, spiral notebooks (remove spiral), notepads, phone books, and paperback books. Hot and cold beverage to-go paper cups (e.g., coffee cups with sleeves and soda cups) are also accepted but lids, straws and stoppers must be removed.

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

FYI: Paper towels, napkins and paper plates 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,
  • Yogurt, dairy and margarine tubs
  • Shampoo and conditioner bottles
  • Detergent and fabric softener bottles
  • Prescription vials - emptied
  • Spray bottles with regular household cleaners (not hazardous waste)
  • Plastic to-go cups made from polypropylene (PP) (e.g. to-go cold drink cups for soda and iced coffee purchased from a restaurant, not those typically purchased from the grocery store and used at home such as Solo Party Plastic Cups). When in doubt, throw it out.

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 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 bakeware 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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