Tips for Recycling Right
Recent updates to our county’s recycling system may have left you wondering what can and can’t go into your blue bin. Feat not- we’re providing all the tools you need to understand these changes. Updated recycling flyers from Camden County can be found here for residents to reference any time you are unsure where to put your glass jars or junk mail. Looking for a more tech-savvy approach? Download the FREE Recycle Coach app. Find answers at your fingertips, anywhere, to questions about collection schedules, recycling events or how to dispose of an item. The app even has a quiz to discover what type of recycler you are! Find the app on the Recycling Information page. Keep in mind when it comes to plastics, the BEST approach for our environment is to REDUCE your use of single-use plastics. In order to keep recycling costs down and maximize the success of the recycling process, we ask all residents follow these guidelines:
Acceptable items include glass bottles and jars, paper towel rolls, aluminum and metal cans, loose metal jar lids, steel bottle caps, file folders, office paper, greeting cards, regular and junk mail, cartons, paperboard boxes such as cereal, pasta and tissue boxes, flattened corrugated cardboard, paper bags, paper books, phone books, newspapers, magazines, brochures and inserts (untied and unbundled, no bags) and #1 and #2 plastic food and beverage containers ONLY. All containers must be emptied, rinsed and dried and all cardboard boxes flattened. There is no need to remove paper clips, stamps, address labels, metal fasteners, cellophane address windows, rubber bands, serial bindings or plastic tabs.
Items that can NOT be recycled are plastic bags, plastic microwave trays, frozen food or juice containers, ice cream containers, stickers or address label sheet waste, styrofoam or paper to-go containers, organic matter, food waste or any plastic other than #1 and #2.
Prescription drugs can be disposed in the Project Medicine Drop Box in the lobby of the Collingswood Police Department (735 N. Atlantic Ave). This drop box is available to residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Special waste collections such as electronic recycling, hazardous waste collection and shredding events are held by Camden County’s Division of Environmental Affairs throughout the year. These events are free and for residents only. Find more information on camdencounty.com.
Paper shredding, hazardous waste collection, electronic recycling and a latex paint collection are happening in Collingswood on April 13 at the Collingswood Green Festival. Find details here.
Did you know? Plastics are identified with a number ranging one to seven, called the Resin Identification Code (RIC). The RIC can be found inside a recycling symbol usually on bottom, top or side of the container.
