HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlastics Guide Text-OnlyPlastics Guide
Examples of items not accepted in City curbside collection or drop-off recycling programs:
• Flexible Plastics
o chip bags
o candy or granola bar wrappers
o coffee or tea pouches
o drink pouches
o retail shopping bags
o food bags or packaging
o rolled kitchen plastic wrap
o dog or bird food bags
o soil, mulch, or ice melt bags
o boxed wine bags
o plastic-coated gift wrap
o gloves
o wipes & packaging
o bubble wrap
o tape
o balloons
o other similar materials, even if there is a recycling symbol
• Styrofoam & Other Plastics
o Food items
▪ clamshell-like containers
▪ Styrofoam
▪ sauce cups, coffee cup lids, drinking straws, & silverware
▪ loose bottle caps or foam corks
▪ bread clips
o Bathroom items
▪ lotion, toothpaste, makeup, or shampoo tubes or pump nozzles
▪ floss & floss sticks
▪ toothbrushes
▪ shaving razors
▪ contact lens or case
o Other items
▪ writing utensils
▪ syringes
▪ shoes, clothing, & toys
▪ CD, VHS, & cassette tapes
▪ tape dispensers
▪ Styrofoam pieces
▪ yard signs
▪ cigarettes
▪ fertilizer, motor oil, or hazardous material bottles
▪ large plastic items, such as laundry baskets
Examples of items accepted in City curbside collection or drop-off recycling programs:
• water, juice, or soda bottles
• milk jugs
• lotion, soap, or shampoo bottles
• medicine or vitamin bottles
• yogurt cups or tubs
• laundry detergent jugs
• sour cream, cottage cheese, & butter tubs
• peanut butter jars
• other similar hard plastic bottles, tubs & jugs with a recycling symbol/number
Other helpful information
• Tips for successful plastic recycling:
o leave caps on bottles & jugs
o remove any pump nozzles
o rinse items clean before recycling
• Other recycling options:
o External mail-in recycling programs are available for some of the items on these
material lists, such as programs available through TerraCycle.
o Locally, participating stores accept plastic bags for recycling.
• The problem with plastic:
o Some plastics are designed in a way that makes them difficult to recycle. Even
"recyclable" plastics have a limited number of times they can be recycled before their
quality degrades & can no longer be recycled. This is different than aluminum or glass
that can be recycled again & again forever.
o The best solution is to reduce use of disposable plastics & to look for sustainable,
reusable alternatives.
Questions & Information
• Call: 319-887-6110
• Email: jane-wilch@iowa-city.org
• Visit: www.icgov.org/recycle