What Can You Put In Your Recycling Bin?

Author: Hai Le

Updated on October 22, 2025 • Estimated read time: 8 minutes

Did you know that not all items can be recycled, and that putting the wrong things in your bin can actually contaminate the entire batch? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, putting items in the recycling bin that can’t be recycled can contaminate the whole recycling stream, causing an entire load of recyclable to be rejected and thrown out!

Some recycling efforts make a bigger impact than others, learning what items can and cannot be placed in your recycling bin can help you ensure that your recyclable materials successfully make it through the recycling process and to their next life.

If you are just getting started on your recycling journey, or maybe today is the first day you sign up for a recycling program, then you need to read this blog post.

In this blog post, I'll provide you with a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide on what you can and cannot put in your recycling bin. From everyday household items to those tricky materials that often cause confusion, you’ll learn how to recycle smarter, avoid contamination, and maximize the impact of your efforts.

Things You Must Know Before Putting Stuff In Your Recycling Bin

Fun Fact: According to Recycle Across America, recycling is a $200 billion industry in the United States alone, which generates 7-10 more jobs than landfills and waste-to-energy plants combined!

While recycling is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste, tossing the wrong items into your recycling bin can actually do more harm than good. When non-recyclable items are mixed in with recyclables, it can contaminate the entire batch of materials, which means the whole load might get sent to the landfill instead of being processed.

Recycling also depends on your luck. Some local recycling programs accept things like plastic bags or electronic devices, while others don't want to see them. So, to make recycling work effectively, here are some general rules you need to know:

• Check with your local recycling program to see what can and cannot be recycled.
• Make sure your recyclables are clean and dry.
• Keep food and liquid out of your recycling bin.
• Your recyclable items should not be tied up in a plastic bag (most recycling programs don't accept plastic bags)
• Flatten all cardboard boxes to save space.

This blog is intended to be a general guide only. For the most accurate information, please check with your local recycling program. And if you have any questionable items that need to be recycled, use this search to find a local recycler.

Summary: Recycling is a great way to reduce waste and conserve resources. However, it's important to do it right. Make sure all your items are clean, dry, and not tied up in a plastic bag to ensure recycling facilities accept and recycle your recyclables.

Photo: © DAPA Images via canva.com

What Not To Put In Your Recycling Bin?

Fun Fact: The Recycling Partnership estimates that contamination costs the U.S. recycling system at least $300 million in additional labor, processing, and machinery repairs every single year. (They also dramatically lower the overall recycling rate!)

While recycling is a powerful tool for reducing waste, our current technology and infrastructure still have limits, so not everything can be recycled and put in your recycling bin. Here are some of the items that are typically not accepted in your local recycling program:

• Coffee Cups: Most disposable coffee cups are coated with plastic to prevent any liquid from leaking through your hand. This thin layer, however, makes the recycling process inefficient and expensive.
• Plastic Straws: Stop the misconception that plastic straws are recyclable. They are too lightweight to make it through the mechanical recycling sorter and often are treated as waste in recycling programs.
• Plastic Bags: Curbside recycling programs typically don't accept plastic grocery bags because they're difficult to sort out and often jam the machines at the recycling facilities.
• Batteries: Single-use batteries can not be recycled in your curbside bin. Some options where batteries can be recycled are at your community e-waste facility or e-waste collection events.
• Clothes Hangers: Most recycling facilities won't accept clothes hangers because of their material complexity, and curved ends can be problematic when sorting.
• Children's Toys: Most toys are difficult to recycle, especially if they're made up of tiny plastic parts that can't be easily separated. You'll unlikely find any recycling programs that accept them.
• Plastic Wrap: Not accepted for recycling because the thin film is often tangled, clogged, and wrapped around the equipment, potentially damaging the machinery used in recycling centers.
• Used Paper Towels: Not accepted in curbside recycling programs because they probably have food and other residues on them that can contaminate other recyclable materials and cannot be made into new paper.
• Pizza Boxes: Clean cardboard is recyclable, but once it’s soaked with oil or food, the fibers can’t be separated. Tear off and recycle the clean parts only.
• Plastic Toothbrushes: The combination of nylon bristles and polypropylene handles in plastic toothbrushes makes recycling almost impossible without specialized recycling machines.

Other items to avoid: Garbage, medical waste, photographs, styrofoam, wood or tree branches, and food waste. (Remember that dirty recyclables with residue from leftover food and organic waste on (or in) it is contaminated and cannot be processed for further recycling!)

Summary: Putting non-recyclable items in your recycling bin can contaminate the recycling stream and cause processing problems. Some items simply aren't recyclable, including coffee cups, plastic straws, plastic bags, batteries, clothes hangers, children's toys, plastic wraps, used paper towels, pizza boxes, and plastic toothbrushes.

Photo: © RgStudio via Getty Images

What To Put In Your Recycling Bin?

Recycling is truly beneficial for our environment by conserving resources, saving energy, reducing landfills, and supporting a healthier environment. So here is the list of recyclable items that can go in your recycling bin:

• Plastic Bottles: Your curbside recycling programs will almost always accept plastic bottles. Just remember to empty, rinse, and replace the cap before recycling.
• Brown Paper Bags: They are made from a strong, durable, and 100% recyclable material called kraft paper, so most curbside recycling programs accept them for recycling.
• Newspaper, Magazines, and Junk Mail: Most newspapers and junk mail are made of paper, so they can easily be recycled and turned into newsprint and other materials. Almost, if not all, curbside recycling programs accept them.
• Cardboard Box: Most, if not all, cardboard boxes are designed to be recyclable, so we must take advantage of this opportunity and recycle them. Also, remember to flatten them to save storage space and make the collector's job easier.
• Aluminum and Steel Cans: Recycling aluminum cans can save up to 95% of the energy required to make a new one. But remember to clean them first before putting them into your recycling bin.
• Glass Containers and Jars: You can recycle them endlessly because they don't lose their quality after the recycling process.

Fun Fact: According to the Container Recycling Institute, Americans bought more than 70 billion plastic water bottles in 2018, and nearly 75% of them ended up in landfills or incinerators. (That’s a staggering amount of waste that could have been recycled into new bottles, clothing fibers, or even building materials.)

Summary: Curbside recycling programs vary from city to city, so as always, check with your local recycling program to make sure all of these items can be placed in your curbside recycling bin: Plastic bottles, brown paper bags, newspaper, old documents, books, cardboard boxes, aluminum cans, and glass jars.

Photo: © cyano66 via Getty Images

What To Do With Items That Can’t Go in Your Recycling Bin?

Not everything belongs in your curbside recycling bin — and that’s okay. Some materials require special handling due to their composition, size, or potential hazards. Tossing these items into the wrong bin can contaminate recyclables, damage sorting machines, or even create safety risks for workers.

So, what should you do with those tricky items that don’t fit into your blue bin? Here are 3 ways to handle them responsibly:

1. Drop-off Center: When an item can't go into your curbside bin, it often needs special handling at a drop-off center. This is particularly true for materials like electronics (laptops, phones, TVs), batteries, and light bulbs.

Fortunately, many local communities and major retailers offer designated drop-off recycling centers or take-back programs where you can safely dispose of these products and ensure they are recycled responsibly.

2. Consider Reuse, Repurpose, Donate: Just because something can’t go in the recycling bin doesn’t mean it has to go in the trash. Many items can be reused, repurposed, or donated to give them a second life.

Textiles and clothing are a big one. Even if they’re not perfect, many charities, local shelters, and textile recycling programs accept them.

3. Trash (As a Last Resort): If you’ve checked for drop-off recycling centers, considered donating, and still find no viable alternative, then it’s okay to dispose of the item responsibly.

If an item truly has no viable reuse or recycling option, then responsibly dispose of it as waste. But ensure that’s only after you’ve verified the alternatives.

Summary: Not every item can go in your recycling bin, but that doesn’t mean it has to end up in a landfill. By taking advantage of drop-off programs, donation centers, and creative reuse options, you can help minimize waste, conserve resources, and protect the planet.

Quick Takeaway

Overall, recycling is a simple yet effective way to help conserve natural resources, save energy, and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. But to make your efforts count, it’s important to know which items are commonly accepted in curbside recycling programs.

Here are some of the most common items to place in your recycling bin:

1. Plastic Bottles
2. Brown Paper Bags
3. Newspaper And Old Document
4. Cardboard Box
5. Aluminum And Steel Can
6. Glass Container And Jars

Make sure to avoid wishcycling, the act of tossing questionable items into the bin and hoping they can be recycled. Unfortunately, this often leads to contamination, which can cause an entire batch of recyclables to be sent to the landfill instead.

As always, this blog is intended to be a general guide only. For the most accurate information, please check with your local recycling program.

Frequently Asked Questions Relate To This Blog:

Question #1: What can I put in a recycling bin?

Answer: Recycling guidelines vary from city to city, so it is important to check with your local recycling program to see what materials are recyclable in your area. However, in general, you can put paper, plastic, metal, and glass in a recycling bin.

Question #2: How should I prepare recyclable materials for recycling?

Answer: You don’t need to prepare anything, just simply put your recyclable materials in a recycling bin and you are good to go. But make sure to flatten all your cardboard boxes or rinse out food and beverage containers to help the collecting process go much smoother.

Question #3: How can I recycle my electronic devices?

Answer: E-waste, including old phones, computers, and batteries, requires special disposal. Check with your local recycling program for electronics recycling events or look for nearby e-waste collection points to safely dispose of electronic items.

Question #4: Where can I find out more about recycling in my area?

Answer: You can usually get all the information you need from your local recycling program on your local city government or waste management services website. Also, Recycling.com and Earth911's Recycling Center can be a good resource if you live in the United States or Canada.