Can I recycle shredded paper in my recycling bin?
Shredded paper should not be thrown in the
curbside recycling bin. If you have shredded paper at
home, it can be thrown into the trash, or can be used for home backyard composting.
When
our curbside recycling is taken to the processing facility, it goes on a
conveyor belt with many screens and other automated processing equipment that
sorts the various commodities.
Shredded
paper either ends up falling through the conveyor belts or ends up wrapped
around the machinery, clogging it up.
We ask residents to instead use our paper
shredding program. The material from that program does not have to get
sorted, rather it is baled and sent directly to recycling markets.
Should my recyclables be bagged?
No – recycling from your household should go directly
into your curbside bin. Your recyclables should not be bagged, and there should
be no plastic bags/film in your recycling bin.
Can I recycle plastic bags at my curb?
No – Plastic bags that are put in the curbside recycling
bins can get tangled in machinery at recycling facilities, making a mess. Too
many plastic bags tangled in the machines can even cause a facility to have to
shut down for cleaning and repairs.
What should I do with plastic bags?
You can reuse plastic bags for other purposes (ex:
bathroom trash bag, picking up after pets) or bring them back to the
supermarket for either reuse or to be recycled. Most supermarkets have a bag
collection bin at the front of the store. You can also choose to bring your own
reusable shopping bag to the supermarket to reduce the amount of plastic bags
you use.
Why can I recycle only plastics 1-2?
Middlesex County has had conversations with the
private recycling facility operators in and around our County, who handle our
recycling as well as some of the surrounding counties’ recycling. So, to
be clear, it is not Middlesex County who has decided what is recyclable and
what is not, rather it is the private facility operators who are telling us the
types of plastics that they can market. This is not a Middlesex County
only problem, the marketability of plastics is an issue all across New Jersey,
and many counties who previously recycled all types of plastic are going back
to recycling only #1 and #2. Markets are always evolving, so if in the
future, we get confidence that other types of plastic can be reliably recycled,
we will consider adding those to the mandated items list
What about kiddie
outdoor water play items (i.e. pool), these items have the #2 in the recycling
triangle on them?
No, those can just go into the trash. Those
things are too large to be properly recycled at a facility.
Can I recycle my frozen
food boxes?
Generally, the frozen food boxes
should not be recycled. They have a waxy coating on them that makes it more
difficult to recycle.
How do I recycle my
television?
Visit this page.
What should I do if my
apartment complex doesn’t recycle?
Each apartment complex decides the
best method of collection for recycling and garbage depending on their
situation. Recycling is mandatory for these locations. The County
and Municipal Recycling Coordinator are available to assist in this effort, but
by law, the generator (meaning the apartment complex managers) are responsible
to ensure that their residents are recycling properly. Our Environmental
Health Division has a team of inspectors to ensure our multifamily locations
are recycling. For questions on this program, call 732-745-8480.
What happens if I run
out of room in my recycling bin?
If you run out of room in your
recycling bin in between collections, in most cases you can contact the town to
purchase another bin. In some towns, you can also use your own can (no
larger than 32 gallons) clearly marked “recycling”. Most municipalities
also have a drop-off center to handle excess materials. Residents should
contact their towns for specific rules. Recyclables cannot be
put in plastic bags in any town’s curbside collection.
Do I need to remove
caps or crush the plastic bottles?
Caps should be removed, but it is
not critical to do so. No need to crush the bottles.
Can I recycle pizza
boxes?
Any boxes that are greasy or have food contamination should not be recycled. Contact your local municipality if your pizza box is free from contamination for further instructions.
Can I recycle egg
cartons?
Egg cartons should be thrown in the
regular trash.
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