Recycling FAQ

No. Plastic bags cannot be recycled.

Sometimes it is tempting to put anything that looks remotely recyclable in the bin! Unfortunately, some products can’t make it through the processors and must be tossed instead of recycled…this includes plastic bags. If it doesn’t survive the “poke test” (i.e. you can push your finger through it), it is too soft to be recycled and shouldn’t go into the recycling bin.

Non-recyclable plastic bags include:

• Grocery bags
• Sandwich bags (think Ziplocs)
• Bubble wrap
• Plastic wrap
• Garbage bags (individually or as a container for your other recyclables)

Solution: Since these items cannot be recycled, focus on reducing your single-use plastic usage. Cloth grocery bags, reusable containers for food and used newspapers for packing can be a great way to make a big impact!

Small Items Can Cause Big Problems.

They are cute. They are colorful. But small plastic items like single-use straws and bottle caps are too small to be sorted and can cause big problems by jamming recycling equipment. When you are looking to toss something into the recycle bin, keep in mind that these items are too tiny to include:

• Straws
• Free floating Bottle caps / Milk lids (okay if attached to a bottle)
• Coffee pods
• Plastic forks, knives, spoons
• paperclips

Solution: Like plastic bags, a great way to make an impact is to focus on reducing single-use plastic usage!

Clean Food Residue

Food waste can contaminate an entire load of recycling. Rinse your recyclables clean then let the item air dry before tossing it in the recycle bin.

• Greasy containers like pizza boxes or paper serving plates should not be recycled (non-greasy boxes or sections without grease are fine!)
• Things like squeeze pouches and tubes are usually impossible to clean – better to toss these items.
• A good rule of thumb is to never allow more than 1 teaspoon of liquid to remain in the recyclable when you toss it in the bin.

Combined Products Can’t Be Recycled

While finding the perfect vintage to pair with dinner is a win, paired products and recycling are not. If the parts and pieces can’t be separated, it can’t be recycled.

• Plastic-coated coffee cups or food packaging
• Laminated paper
• Bubble wrap envelopes
• Frozen food boxes (most have special plastic coating to keep food fresher in the freezer).

However, if you can separate the parts (think electronic packaging that has a plastic front and paper back that can be easily separated), you can divide into the proper recycling bins.

Great news! Valley County currently accepts plastic resin codes #1 – #7. That makes recycling plastics here super easy – pretty much anything goes! There are, however, a few exceptions you should be aware of:

• Plastic films (like grocery bags, garbage bags and sandwich bags) are not recyclable.
• Anything that can tear like paper is not recyclable (think bags that come inside of cracker boxes and cereal boxes)
• Small items like plastic straws, plastic lids, single use cutlery, etc. are too small for the sorting machines and jam up recycling equipment. However, if lids are securely on the item (like a milk jug or soda bottle) they cannot be included. Please make sure all caps are removed.

Cardboard and Mixed Paper seem pretty straightforward, but a lot of us put things in the cardboard bin that are actually Mixed Paper. Here is a quick-list of what can be classified as cardboard, mixed paper, and what can’t go in either:

• Cardboard
  • Uncoated (no wax!), corrugated cardboard (think Amazon shipping boxes)
  • Pizza boxes, without sauce or cheese residue–soiled portions of the box should be add to your regular household trash.
  • Flatten! While whole boxes will still accepted, it makes our collection bins able to hold more material if boxes are flattened.
• Mixed Paper
  • Newspapers and inserts
  • White and colored office and printing paper
  • Paper-back books (no hard-cover)
  • Spiral-bound notebooks
  • Magazines and catalogs (including phone books)
  • Cereal boxes
  • Juice and drink boxes
  • Paper towel and toilet paper roll cartridges
  • Shoe boxes
  • Snack food and cookie boxes
  • Pasta boxes (with or without windows)
  • Egg cartons (cardboard only)
  • Paper bags
  • Envelopes (with or without windows)
  • Wrapping paper
  • All other clean and dry paper
• Paper materials NOT accepted
  • Shredded Paper
  • Ice cream containers
  • Milk and juice boxes
  • Coffee/beverage cups
  • Hard-cover books
  • Anything contaminated by food or liquid
  • Paper plates, paper towels and napkins

When In Doubt, Throw It Out

Many of us are “aspirational recycles” – we WANT things to be recyclable so we toss them in our recycling bins. While the sentiment is sincere, “wishcycling” has the potential to contaminate an entire load.

Did you know that food waste is the number one source of contamination – if you can’t wash it off, toss it in the trash!

Valley County is currently unable to recycle the following materials:

• Glass / Broken Glass
• Light bulbs
• Propane tanks or cylinders
• Aerosol cans that aren’t empty
• Garden hoses
• Sewing needles
• Bowling balls
• Household hazardous waste
• Syringes

Solution: Upcycle when you can’t recycle! Common items like shoes, toys and clothing can’t be recycled…but they can be upcycled! Find new uses for these items or donate to a local thrift store. Same goes for glass bottles. Valley County does not currently accept glass bottles, but they can certainly be upcycled as food storage, flower vases or anything else your imagination can dream up.

I mean it IS paper – why can’t you recycle shredded paper? While it IS generally recyclable, it needs to be baled separately. Mixed into normal paper bins, the tiny size makes it easy to slip through the paper separator at a recycling facility. The facilities that are needed to properly bale and process shredded paper do not exist currently at the center, and the center will get a greater yield by concentrating on the Mixed Paper at this time.