The recycling process starts when a consumer finishes a product and makes the conscious decision to recycle it. Unfortunately many consumers skip this step, which is why landfills are currently filling to the brim and Waste-To-Energy plants are at capacity. Other consumers, on the other hand, decide to do their part to help the environment by responsibly disposing of their used products. Learning how to recycle right is the first step.
All your household recycling in ONE bin.
Connecticut now has a universal list of what belongs in your recycling bin and what doesn’t. All items should be empty, rinsed, clean and open. Do not shred, box, bag, or bundle material.
Here is a link to “What’s In and What’s Out” for recycling.
ONLY put items in your recycling bin that are listed in the “IN” category. Adding additional items that are not on the list will contaminate the mixed stream. The contaminated items reduce the value of the recyclables or sometimes can make an entire load of recycling become trash. We call this wishful recycling. If you have questions about what is “IN” or why something is “OUT” please email info@hrra.org.
Material recovery facilities (MRFs) use optical sensors to read the different types of material moving on the black conveyor belts. Black plastic blends in with the conveyor belts and therefore are not seen by the senses or sorted properly. The black plastic items get mixed into other sorted streams and contaminate other materials. Consider reusing black plastic take-out containers for storing items. Consider returning black plastic flowerpots to a garden center or seeing if your local garden club could use them.
Otherwise, please place any black plastic item in the trash.
Due to the size of shredded paper it cannot be effectively captured in a material recovery facility (MRFs). Shredded paper falls under the 2″ rule, meaning it falls through the conveyor belt holes and contaminates the glass separation stream. Shredded paper should be brought to a local collection site such as your transfer station or place of business for recycling. You can also wait for a local community shredding/collection event to dispose of your shredded paper.
Otherwise, please place shredded paper in the trash.
Plastic single-use cups are OKAY to put in your recycling, but you MUST THROW away your plastic single-use lid and straw. Single-use straws, paper or plastic, and lids fall into the 2” rule – they are too small to be sorted properly and fall through the conveyor belt holes contaminating the glass separation stream.
The following items CAN be recycled but NOT in your curbside bin!
If you have questions regarding these items email HRRA at info@hrra.org
Have you ever wondered about those little numbers inside a triangle of arrows on the bottom of plastic containers? They tell you the kind of plastic used to manufacture the soft drink bottles, laundry detergent packages, milk jugs, and other plastic bottles that you purchase.
There are many ways to reuse or recycle items that are no longer of use to us in our homes. As residents of Connecticut, reusing or recycling these items can reduce the amount and toxicity of the garbage that is disposed in our state. Click here to learn more.
TerraCycle offers free recycling programs funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world to help you collect and recycle your hard-to-recycle waste. Simply choose the programs you’d like to join; start collecting in your home, school, or office; download free shipping labels; and send us your waste to be recycled. You can even earn rewards for your school or favorite non-profit! Visit them here