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About The Program

Most residents in multi-family dwellings (apartments or condominium complexes with five or more units) will have compost, recycling and garbage services available, unless the property has been waived from the requirement for compost services.

RethinkWaste or its contractor may be in your neighborhood throughout the year assessing your carts/bins. RethinkWaste is only looking for proper sorting and may leave outreach on your carts/bins with helpful tips and information on how to sort properly. Contact us with questions.

Recycling Buddy Bags

Recycling Buddy Bags are available to residents of multi-family complexes at no additional cost and to make recycling more convenient. These can be used by residents to collect their recyclable in their home and then emptied into the centralized Recycle Cart/Bin.


Kitchen Pails

If your complex subscribes to the Compost collection program, then Recology will provide each tenant with a free 2-gallon kitchen pail to use in your home for convenience. Simply use the pail for scraps in your home then empty the contents into your complex’s central Compost Cart/Bin. The pail does not get set out for collection. Contact Recology if you need to order a replacement kitchen pail.

You can use newspapers, paper bags and paper towels to line the kitchen pail or collect your food scraps. You can also use compostable bags to line your kitchen pail and to collect food scraps. The bags must be approved as compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and can be found at many retail locations.

Blue Cart (Recycling) Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s Don’ts

Glass

  • Glass bottles & jars (lids okay)

Metal

  • Aluminum cans
  • Aluminum foil & trays (must be clean and balled up)
  • Steel (tin) cans
  • Spray cans (must be empty or dry)

Plastic (#1-7)

  • Plastic Bottles, caps, lids, containers and cups
  • Tubs
  • Clamshells (Clear)

Paper (must be dry and not food soiled)

  • Cardboard (non-waxed)
  • Computer & office paper (all colors)
  • Egg cartons (cardboard)
  • Envelopes
  • Magazines and junk mail
  • Milk & Juice cartons
  • Newspapers
  • Packing & craft paper
  • Paper Bags
  • Phone books and paperback books
  • Sticky note paper
  • Shredded paper (place in paper bag labeled “Shredded Paper” first)
  • Wrapping paper (non-metallic)

Please, NO:

  • Automotive parts & products
  • Batteries & cell phones
  • Black plastic
  • Diapers
  • Dishware
  • Flower & nursery pots
  • Food
  • Garbage
  • Garden hoses
  • Household hazardous waste
  • Juice, soup or soy milk boxes with foil liners
  • Light bulbs (incandescents, fluorescents, or HIDs)
  • Metallic or glittered paper
  • Mirrors
  • Plastic bags
  • Plastic corks
  • Plastic & wire hangers
  • Plastic film, shrink wrap & bubble wrap
  • Soiled paper (paper cups, plates, napkins, towels, take-out boxes & greasy pizza boxes)
  • Styrofoam packaging & food containers
  • Packing peanuts
  • Styrofoam egg cartons

Green Cart (Compost) Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s Don’ts

Food scraps

  • Bread, grains & pasta
  • Bones
  • Coffee grounds
  • Dairy
  • Eggshells
  • Fish & Shellfish
  • Fruit, including pits
  • Meat, including bones
  • Poultry
  • Vegetables


Food or Beverage-Soiled Paper Products

  • Coffee filters
  • Ice cream containers
  • Paper cups and plates
  • Paper napkins and towels
  • Paper take-out boxes & containers
  • Paper tea bags
  • Pizza boxes
  • Waxed cardboard & paper
  • Wine corks (natural only)


Yard Trimmings

  • Branches & brush
  • Flowers & floral trimmings
  • Grass & yard clippings
  • Leaves
  • Tree trimmings
  • Untreated, clean wood

Please, NO:

  • Animal waste
  • Ash
  • Cat litter
  • Concrete & Asphalt
  • Cooking oil
  • Diapers
  • Dirt, rocks & bricks
  • Glass
  • Liquids
  • Palm fronds
  • Plastic bags
  • Plastic corks
  • Plywood
  • Recyclables (glass, aluminum, paper & plastics #1-7)
  • Styrofoam packaging, food containers and peanuts
  • Treated & painted wood

Black Cart (Garbage) Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s Don’ts

Acceptable

  • Black Plastic
  • Incandescent light bulbs
  • Juice or soy milk-type boxes with foil liners
  • Pens & pencils
  • Pet Waste
  • Plastic bags, film & wrappers
  • Rubber bands
  • Snack bags & wrappers
  • Styrofoam

Please, NO:

  • Batteries
  • Household hazardous waste
  • Electronic Waste
  • Batteries and Cell Phones
  • Liquids
  • Medicines
  • Motor oil & oil filters
  • Sharp objects