City of Laurel Recycling
In July of 2007, the City took over the collection and disposal of the recycling services for residents and businesses. Curb-side recycling collection from single family and townhomes is collected once per week by the City's recycling crew; condominiums and businesses are collected on Wednesday. With the introduction of single-stream collection started in January of 2007, residents no longer have to separate their plastics, metal and glass from their paper products. All recyclable materials may be placed in one bin. All residents of single family and townhomes are required by City Ordinance to recycle. Residents of multi-family residences (apartments) are also expected to recycle. For more information about recycling programs for apartments, please contact the Department of Public Works. To find out which day is your recycling day please view our Refuse and Recycling Map.
While the biggest improvement in the recycling program has been single-stream collection, the City has continued to expand the recycling program in several ways -- plastic recycling now includes both narrow necked and wide-mouth colored and clear plastic bottles with a "1" , “2”, “3”, “5”, and “7” recycling symbol on the bottom; cardboard boxes no longer have to be cut down to 2 feet by 2 feet and residents now are allowed to have more than one recycling bin and have choice of a 35-gallon toter or 65-gallon toter. Plastic bags number “4” can be recycled at local grocery and home good stores, but should not be placed in the recycling containers. Styrofoam number “6” is currently not accepted in the City’s recycling program. Residents are urged to use compostable containers, tableware and flatware, these items can be recycled through the composting program and is safe to dispose of with the regular refuse collections.
REDUCE! - Buy bulk sized products. This will reduce the packaging you buy then throw away!
REUSE! - Instead of using foil, plastic wrap or plastic bags, reuse food containers!
BUY RECYCLED! - Buying products packaged in recycled containers drives up the market for recyclable materials, a significant component in a successful recycling process!
Recycling is EASY, ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMICAL
How to Prepare Recycled Materials...
Recycling Paper Materials . . . The City's program provides collection for most paper materials, including newspaper, newspaper inserts, corrugated and lightweight cardboard, junk mail, telephone books, computer paper, magazines and books. Recycling Plastics . . . Recycle plastic bottles made of clear HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and clear or colored PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastics. HDPE is the material used in jugs for milk, water and fruit juices. PET is the plastic used in soda bottles. Plastic manufacturers have adopted a code to help identify these materials. The code is a triangle, usually found molded into the bottom of the container, made of arrows with a number in the middle. Narrow neck plastic containers with the recycling symbol and the numbers "1" , “2”, “3”, “5”, and “7”are acceptable for recycling. The City's program can also accept aseptic/gable-top milk and juice cartons. Please empty and rinse all containers.
The City no longer accepts plastic grocery store bags, plastic film, shrink wrap and other forms of plastic bags. This includes the use of plastic trash bags in which you put your recycling. Thin plastic film of any variety can be returned to your local grocery store at their bag collection area. Recycling should be placed loose in your City-issued recycling container. If you have occasional overfill you may put your extra recycling into cardboard boxes or paper bags (if you use a paper yard debris bag for this purpose please mark them as recycling with a permanent marker). If your container is too small you can request a new container by calling the Department of Public Works. Recycling containers are provided by the city for FREE!
Please see the educational videos below for more information on what is and is not accepted and how to prepare your recycling.
Recycling Glass Bottles and Jars...
Recycle all unbroken food and beverage jars and bottles made of glass that is clear, green or brown. All containers must be empty and rinsed with all lids and caps removed. For the safety of the collection crews, we cannot handle broken glass. Place glass in the bin to protect it from breakage. Please do not include ceramics, window panes, dishes, light bulbs, mirror or any other type of glass.
Recycling Metal Cans...
Recycle all food and beverage cans made of metal. This includes aluminum, steel and bi-metal cans such as soda cans, soup cans, vegetable cans, pet food cans, etc. All cans must be empty and rinsed. Aerosol cans with less than 5% content is acceptable for recycling. For further information regarding preparing your recyclable materials, please refer to the 2010 Resident Information (page 8) or call the Department of Public Works
Plastic Nursery Pot Recycling...
Educational Videos on Recycling...
