RECYCLING DOES AND DON'TS IN DC
WHAT CAN'T BE RECYCLED (It's a short list!)
> light bulbs of any kind
> window glass or glass cookware
> styrofoam (or any foamed plastics such as plastic foam egg cartons, meat trays, foam packaging including peanuts)
> all carryout food containers including cartons/salad bar containers/Styrofoam boxes, pizza boxes
> plastic or paper cups, plates, flat wear
> plastic coated (laminated) paper
> small electronics
> wire hangers
> clothing/diapers
> any container which had toxic chemicals, e.g., motor oil and insecticide
NOTE: Strong chemicals and items with electronic components should be brought to the District's weekly Household Hazardous Waste and E-Cycling service drop-off at the city's two transfer stations.
Unbent wire hangers will be taken back by some dry cleaners including Empress Cleaners on Macomb Street.
Packing peanuts will be taken back by Parcel Plus located in the Park n Shop center at Connecticut and Ordway.
WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED
> Aerosol cans
> Aluminum foil and aluminum pie pans
> Aluminum food and beverage containers
> Books (including paperbacks, textbooks and hardbacks)
> Brown paper bags (Kraft)
> Cardboard and paperboard boxes (including cereal boxes without liners)
> Computer printouts
> Corrugated cardboard boxes
> Ferrous and bimetal food and beverage containers
> Glass containers such as jars and bottles
> Junk mail
> Magazines and catalogs
> Milk and juice cartons
> Narrow-neck plastic containers (other than for motor oil) that carry plastic resin identification codes 1 through 7
> Newspapers (including all inserts)
> Non-metallic wrapping paper
> Office paper (including typing, fax, copy, letterhead, and NCR) and envelopes
> Plastic bags, e.g., grocery bags, newspaper bags, and shopping bags. Please put your plastic bags into one plastic bag then place it in your recycling container. We will accept more than one bag of plastic bags.
> Rigid plastics including plastic milk/soda crates, plastic buckets with metal handles, plastic laundry baskets, plastic lawn furniture, plastic totes, plastic drums, plastic coolers, plastic flower pots, plastic drinking cups/glasses, plastic 5-gallon water bottles, plastic pallets, plastic toys, and empty plastic garbage/recycling bins
> Telephone books
> Wide-mouth containers such as peanut butter, margarine/butter tubs, yogurt, cottage, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, whipped topping (note that the lids and caps do not need to be removed)
> Prescription and over-the-counter medicine bottles (Be sure to remove any left over medicine and the identification label. Place pills or liquids in a sealable container like a coffee can; mix with coffee grounds, kitty litter or any other material so that the medicine cannot be used by anyone else; seal container and dispose of with your garbage.)
REPLACING YOUR CART: If your bin or blue cart is missing, stolen or badly damaged, contact the Citywide Call Center at 311 to request a new one; however, be aware that the city is now charging $45 for a new one.
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