aluminum cans

steel & tin cans

labels okay

clean aluminum foil

(if it's not clean, better to leave it out )

foil pie pans and baking tins

metal pots, pans, and lids

glass jars & lids

separate the lid from the jar before recycling

pizza boxes 

only clean, empty boxes 

Tear off  greasy parts and put them in the trash. 

Remove all food, box liners, etc.

glass bottles

all color glass

no corks please!

junk mail & office paper

Tired of junkmail? Here's how to reduce it. 

newspaper

no plastic sleeves

phone & paperback books

magazines & catalogs

paper bags

reuse tip:

paper bags make for some fine gift wrap.

Test your skills against the City's biggest recycling myths.

Take the Quiz!

sticky notes

(aka: Post It® notes)

attach them to a piece of paper to help them make it through the sorting process

boxes

flatten them to save room

no greasy cardboard

paper cups 

(hot and cold)

no liquids! 

 toss the lid in too, unattached

food boxes

no plastic liners

shoe and gift boxes

cardboard egg crates

cardboard cores

plastic bottles 

from the kitchen

caps on

plastic bottles

 from the bathroom

caps on*

*discard pumps & nozzles (because of the metal)

plastic bottles 

from the laundry room and cleaning closet

caps on*

*discard pumps & nozzles because of the metal

tubs

plastic milk jugs

lids on

yogurt cups

pill and supplement bottles

Larger than 2" in either

direction

Kitty litter buckets and jugs 

(up to 5 gallons in size) 

Plastic buckets 

(up to 5 gallons)

Remove and discard metal handles if possible. 

gloves

masks

disposable wipes 

Do not flush down the toilet 

food

You might be interested in this article: 

Composting in a Chicago Apartment...  

garden hoses

reuse ideas

aerosol cans

must be completely empty so they don't

explode.  Keep the button pushed until no sound comes out. 

recycle lids separately

clothes, rags, textiles, shoes

better yet, donate them

polystyrene / styrofoam

Clean styrofoam  (except packaging  peanuts) can be dropped off for recycling. 

Map and details

shredded paper

Drop off shredded paper for recycling at these events.

wrapping and tissue paper

molded PET / clamshells 

chip bags

drink pouches

diapers

napkins, paper towels, tissues

All glass except bottles and jars

disposable utensils, even the biodegradable ones

plastic plant pots

Return pots to nurseries for reuse.

vinyl

beach balls, shower curtains, inflatable toys, etc.

Coffee pods

pet poop

pet food bags

VHS & cassette tapes

incandescent light bulbs

note: fluorescent light bulbs cannot be disposed of curbside - see the hazardous section 

Christmas bulbs

hardback books

better yet, donate them to these local organizations

If the spine is removed, the paper can be recycled.

large plastics items, like

laundry baskets and crates.

 Cookie tins

If they're worth donating, please do!

plastic toys

better yet: donate them

alkaline batteries

see the hazardous section for rechargeable battery disposal