Official website of the
City of Vancouver, Washington

Recycling Refresher

Recycling Instructions

Help your recycler by sorting these material in the proper fashion and by keeping out contaminants.

Separate your containers from your mixed paper and your newspaper.  Place those materials in their respective single family bins or multifamily roller carts.

Stack your single family bins with containers on top, mixed paper in the middle, and newspaper on the bottom.

Set out your single family bins by 6:30 a.m. on the morning of collection - the same day as trash pick up. Please place no more than 5 feet from your curb.

Containers - Green bin

Plastic Bottles

DO rinse, flatten or crush. Check the neck! Only recycle plastic bottles with necks smaller than their bases.

DON’T include other plastics, such as plastic bags, tubs, plastic wrap or bottle lids. Please NO motor oil bottles or bottles that contained toxics. If they are empty, put the lid on the bottles and put them in the trash.

Empty Aerosol Cans/Tin Cans

DO RINSE tin cans and remove labels. (Paper labels can be recycled with mixed paper). Place lids inside a can and squash open end of that can. Remove and discard plastic tops from empty spray cans.

DON’T include full or partially full aerosol spray cans (they can go to an HHW facility for recycling) or empty paint cans. (Empty paint cans can be put in the trash)

Aluminum

DO rinse aluminum cans, pie plates, food containers and foil. Remove labels.

DON’T flatten cans or include cans used for paint or chemicals. Please NO foil with food on it.

Glass bottles and jars

DO RINSE. Remove lids and recycle them with tin cans if the lids are metal. Paper labels are OK.

DON’T include drinking glasses or window glass, light bulbs, mirrors or ceramics. NO broken glass of any kind.

Milk cartons & drink boxes

DO rinse and flatten. Even though cartons are mostly paper, they go in the bin with other containers (Glass bottles, aluminum, tin cans, empty aerosol cans, plastic bottles).

DON’T include straws.

Mixed papers - Tan bin

DO leave loose – junk mail (envelope windows are OK), magazines, phone books, paper bags, cereal and gift boxes, brochures, note paper, paperback books and other clean paper.

DON’T include tissues, paper towels, napkins, paper plates or disposable diapers. NO foil wrapping paper, photographs, plastic bags or waxed paper liners, as found in cereal boxes. NO frozen food or juice concentrate containers. NO pet food bags.

Newspaper – Brown bin

DO leave loose and stack in single family bin or multifamily roller cart – advertisement inserts are OK.

DON’T include plastic bags, rubber bands, grocery bags or junk mail.

Place beside your bin or roll cart

Corrugated cardboard

DO flatten boxes. Cut down to 3 feet x 3 feet. Be sure they have a wavy inner layer. Secure under or next to recycle bins or roller carts so cardboard doesn’t blow away.

DON’T include waxed cardboard or food contaminated cardboard. (Please recycle gift boxes and shoe boxes with mixed paper.)

Motor oil/antifreeze

(Some multifamily complexes prohibit do-it-yourself vehicle maintenance - check with your manager)

DO place in a one gallon milk jug with a tight fitting lid. Keep oil and antifreeze separate.

DON’T mix motor oil or antifreeze with any other material (no water, brake fluid, solvents…)

Scrap metal

(This service may not be available at your multifamily complex - check with your manager)

DO remove and discard any attached plastic, wood or rubber. Contain loose nuts and bolts in a tin can.

DON’T set out any pieces larger than 24 inches in any direction or heavier than 35 pounds.

Household batteries

DO put in a re-sealable, clear plastic bag and place beside stacked recycle bins. DO include flashlight, hearing aid and rechargeable batteries (alkaline, ni-cad and lithium).

DON’T set out vehicle batteries; they may be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste collection site

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