Cornell Cooperative Extension

Schenectady County

Recycling

Be sure to visit the RecycleRightNY web site!

Listed below are the most commonly accepted single-stream recycling items. Be sure to check with your waste hauler on what items are accepted if you have any questions. Keep in mind:

  • Never bag up your recyclables. Keep them loosely co-mingled inside the bin. If you use a bag to line your recycling bin, make sure the recyclables are not in a bag when they're set out at the curb
  • Just because an object is made from plastic, metal, or glass DOES NOT mean it belongs in the bin. Some objects could be hazardous to sanitation workers, or damage equipment used in processing the recyclables. Other types of contamination affect the value and quality of the recyclables, sometimes making the material un-recyclable! 
Recycle Don't Recycle
Plastic
  • Containers marked #1-7 with bottle caps attached
  • Clean food containers
  • Health, beauty, and cleaning containers (cleaned; remove and discard nozzle pump)

Paper

  • Printer paper, loose leaf paper, envelopes, folders
  • Magazines, phone books, paperback books, newspaper
  • Colored craft paper, brown paper bags, wrapping paper
  • Paper egg cartons, milk cartons

Glass

  • Cleaned beverage or condiment containers

Metal

  • Clean, balled-up aluminum foil
  • Clean foil pie pans or serving trays, balled-up
  • Tin and aluminum cans/lids

Cardboard

  • Thin paperboard rolls and boxes
  • Broken down cardboard boxes
  • Plastic bags
  • Carbon paper
  • Hardcover books
  • Styrofoam
  • Broken glass
  • Scrap metal
  • Candy wrappers
  • Small plastics like disposable utensils
  • Aerosol containers
  • Batteries
  • Lightbulbs
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Electronics

Last updated October 20, 2022

Composting and Recycling

What else can be recycled?

Recycling Guide for Schools

Recycling Guide for Businesses

Recycling Guide for Landlords

Frequently Asked Questions

Can bottle caps and lids be recycled?

Yes! Your plastic bottle cap has a better chance of being recycled if it is secured on the container. Loose caps tend to fall through the cracks at recycling facilities - they can 1)contaminate the stream for crushed glass which lowers the quality and value of the glass or 2)they can jam up equipment at recycling facilities which is dangerous to sanitation workers and costly to the recycling center to fix.

Can plastic straws and forks be recycled?

No. These items are always trash which is why it's best to try to avoid them as much as possible! Don't recycle anything smaller than a tennis ball.

Can paper to-go cups be recycled?

No. These items are always trash which is why it's best to try to avoid them! Hot To-Go cups are made of a composite material - they are both paper and part plastic - and they cannot be separated during processing.

Are paper towels recyclable?

No. This item is trash, but can easily be reduced by choosing a reusable hand towel instead of a disposable one. Clean paper towels and napkins (wet, but no chemical cleaning products) can be composted at home.

Should I rinse out my bottles, jars, and cans before recycling?

Yes! It's always best to recycle clean, empty containers. Wash all food or beverage residue away as much as possible. It will reduce odors and make a better recyclable product! For tough to clean items: when in doubt, throw it out!

Can potato chip bags and other foil snack bags be recycled?

No. Not everything can be recycled. Snack bags, candy wrappers, snack bar wrappers, etc. are always trash. You can reduce your use by buying in bulk!

Can pizza boxes be recycled?

If the box is not totally saturated with grease, it should be recycled. If the box has a lot of food residue and oils, remove and recycle the lid and throw the soiled cardboard in the trash.

Can all plastics with the recycling logo marked #1-7 be recycled?

Unfortunately no. Just because a recycling logo is on a product, doesn't necessarily mean it can be recycled. That logo might represent that the product is made from recycled content - NOT that it is recyclable where you live. Always check with your local recycling rules about which 1-7 plastics are accepted. For example, expanded polystyrene, more commonly known as Styrofoam, usually has a recycling logo and a number 6 on it but it should never go in your recycling bin.

Does my recycling really get recycled if I see it go in the same truck as my trash?

YES! Garbage trucks have split bodies. There is a partition in the middle of the vehicle but you can't see it from a side view.

Is single stream recycling a better way to recycle?

Single Stream makes recycling easier for the consumer, which should increase recycling participation rates. Having fewer bins also means having fewer trucks on the road, which has environmental and economic benefits.. However, single stream recycling usually has more contamination, more objects that should be in the trash. Contamination lowers the quality and resale value of recyclables - so when in doubt, THROW IT OUT!