All About Recycling Bins

So many (recycled) materials

Recycling bins are receptacles used to hold items that will be recycled and then reused. Recycling bins are favored over garbage cans because they tend to be smaller, less bulky, and easy to differentiate from garbage receptacles.

Recycling bins come in all shapes and sizes. Bins in the shape of crates are popular for paper products, such as newspapers, while you'll find recycling bins with holes cut in the top (for soda cans and bottles) in many public areas.

Color code it

Many recycling bins are color coded or contain the recycle logo, which has three green arrows pointing in the same direction in the shape of a triangle. Many bins are blue or green, which help in identification for collectors of recyclable materials. Sometimes, blue bins are used for plastic or aluminum materials, while green is used for paper products.

Sort it

There are a number of items that are safe for recycling, including most plastic (bottles, containers), aluminum (soda cans), and paper. For a detailed list of what is acceptable to recycle in your area, most cities produce literature that gives details and specific community rules.

Whether you have a curbside pickup program or have to take your recyclable materials to a recycling center, you will probably need to sort them according to material, i.e. all plastic in one bin, all paper in another bin etc. Make sure, as well, that you properly clean all materials first. For example, a recyclable bottle of shampoo needs to be rinsed out before set in a bin.

Get with the program

If you have a curbside recycling program in your neighborhood, you may be able to set out your bins on a weekly basis for pickup. If this is the case, some cities use specific recycling bins that should be purchased through the city, or are assigned to each home (given to you at a move-in date). In any case, make sure that you use an approved recycling device.

More information on recycling bins