Recycling Tips

In Hamilton County for Curbside and Drop-Off Recycling

The information below is sourced from: Hamilton County R3source Website

Plastic

Bottles
- Recyclable if mouth is smaller than base
- Empty, rinse, dry, and reattach lids
Jugs
- Recyclable if mouth is smaller than base
- Empty, rinse, dry, and reattach lids
- Examples: milk, soda, laundry, shampoo, contact solution
Tubs
- Make sure to reattach lid after rinsing (DO NOT place containers inside of other containers)
- Empty, rinse, dry, and reattach lids
- Examples: yogurt containers, fruit cups, pudding cups, jello cups, butter tubs, sour cream tubs, cottage cheese tubs, hummus containers

PaINT

Acrylic & Latex-based paints & primers can be disposed of in the curbside trash cans as long as they are completely dried out. Paint that is not expired and in good, usable condition can go to Habitat for Humanity or Matthew 25 Ministries.

Oil-based paints, primers, lacquers, etc. are a hazardous material and cannot be thrown away in the curbside trash. They must be taken to be properly recycled. Hamilton County R3source has a Hazardous Waste Program, including an annual drop-off event.

Paper

Cardboard
- Flatten and should fit inside bin (cut to smaller pieces if necessary)
- Throw away greasy/food parts of pizza boxes
- No need to remove labels or tape
Envelopes
- No need to remove plastic window
- If padded, remove plastic padding before recycling
What can be recycled?
- Paper, Paperboard (ex. cereal boxes)
- Telephone books (break into large chunks), catalogs, magazines, newspapers, tissue paper
  - No need to remove staples
- Post-It Notes (Source: Post-It Website)

Glass

Must be bottle or jar shapes (mouth smaller than base)
- Can be any color
- Rinse, dry, and reattach lid

Cartons

Remove plastic caps and straws

Examples: juice, soup, milk, wine, broth
- No egg or ice cream cartons

Metal Cans

Cans that held non-hazardous/non-flammable material ONLY

Aluminum and Steel Cans
- Empty, rinse, dry, and remove plastic tip
Aerosol Cans
- Empty and take off plastic nozzles, tips, and lids
- Ex. cooking spray
- NO spray paint

To DO + Not To Do

How to properly recycle
- Mix all items together - no need to separate
- Do Not bag items - keep them loose
- Do Not place containers inside of other containers
What Can Not Be Recycled?
- Plastic bags, Batteries (also don’t put in trash), “To-Go” food containers, Receipts, Electronics, Buckets, Light bulbs, Drinking glasses, Ceramics, Scrap metal, Coffee pods, Prescription bottles, Plastic cups, Photographs, Storage tubs and lids, Tupperware, Fruit containers (ex. blueberry, raspberry, etc.)
- Napkins, Paper Towels, Paper Plates
  - Can sometimes be composted

Other Recycling Resources

What can go in these bins?
- Clean, dry bags labeled #2 or #4
- Plastic grocery/retail bags, Ziploc and other re-sealable bags, Newspaper sleeves, Ice bags, Dry cleaning bags, Bread and produce bags, Salt bags, Cereal bags, Toilet paper/napkin/paper towel Wraps
What can not go in these bins?
- Frozen food bags, Pre-washed salad bags, Candy wrappers, Chip bags, Flower bouquet wraps

Cincinnati Reuse & Recycling Hub

“The Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub (CRRH, or the Hub) reduces the amount of waste going to landfills through our one-stop drop-off location where we accept items and materials that are recyclable and reusable, even some that are not permitted in traditional recycling bins.”

See what items the Cincinnati Reuse & Recycling Hub accepts

3R Recycling

3R Recycling provides homeowners and businesses in Cincinnati, OH, with cost-effective, convenient drive-through recycling of all manner of reusable materials, including paper, metal, plastic, wood, and much more.

EARTH 911

A wide list of resources for how to recycle and where to recycle in North America

FREECYCLE

Freecycle is a grassroots & nonprofit network that offers free membership and allows you to give and receive recycled and reusable materials in your community