Generally, TFC does not accept bottle caps and lids. The caps from acceptable bottles are too small to be sorted in the recycling process. Additionally, plastic bottles and containers -- which should be emptied of all liquid before being placed in the recycling bin -- are easier to be processed and baled without caps. Consider using bottle caps for crafts and projects around the house, or simply discard in the standard brown trash bin.
TFC can only accept #1 and #2 plastics that are in the shape of a bottle or jug. Some examples are water bottles, shampoo bottles, milk jugs, juice containers and the like. Be sure to empty all contents, and discard the caps before placing in the recycling bin.
Your local Goodwill store will gladly take those old electronics off your hands, whether they work or not! They follow federal guidelines for proper disposal of anything that might have personal information on it like computers and cell phones. The City also holds quarterly Chesapeake Recycles Day events during which we partner up with Goodwill to take your electronics and dispose of them properly. Some Best Buy stores may be another option for you as well - just give them a call to find out.
No! Plastic bags are not permitted in the recycling stream at all, since they become tangled in the sorting machinery. Do not place any bags in your recycling bin – empty all bags of approved recyclables into the bin, and either throw your bag in the trash, reuse it, or take it to a plastic bag drop-off center, usually found at grocery stores.
Yes! You recycle food and beverage containers like those that container orange juice, almond milk and shelf table soups and broths.
The paper portions of wire-bound notebooks can be recycled in your curbside bin, however the wire must first be removed, as it can become tangled in the sorting machinery at the recycling processing plant. Please dispose of this wire in your brown trash bin.
Stickers are not recyclable, as the adhesive gets caught in recycling equipment. Packing plastic and bubble wrap can tangle in the recycling machinery, and is not recyclable. Packing peanuts (and any foam material) are not recyclable, and should be disposed of in the brown trash bin.
Only glass jars and bottles that have been rinsed out are acceptable. The combination of ingredients used to make glassware is different from what goes in into container glass for bottles and jars. If these two types of glass are recycled together, the resulting glass will not be suitable for container glass. In fact, glassware, ceramics, windowpanes or mirrors can pose a threat to equipment and especially to our employees in our recycling plant. No broken glass is ever allowed, as it is dangerous to staff sorting the materials.
Styrofoam is not accepted for recycling.
You can recycle cardboard, chipboard, newspaper, office papers, junk mail and packing paper... even your old phone books! Cereal boxes are fine, as long as there is no food residue on the box and they have been folded. Shredded paper is only permitted in a paper bag stapled closed and marked “shredded paper” – never in a plastic bag! Paper plates, paper towels and tissues and not recyclable – place them in the trash.
Aluminum or steel cans are acceptable, as long as they’re rinsed out.
Large pieces of metal are not accepted in recycling.
Glossy paper inserts are recyclable!
Plastic caps from milk containers – and other approved plastic bottles -- should be taken off the bottle and thrown in the trash.
Aerosol cans are not recyclable, and should not even be placed in the trash. These cans can explode when being processed, and can contain hazardous chemicals. Please dispose of these at a SPSA Household Hazardous Waste event or drop-off.
Yes, but you don’t have to thoroughly wash them. A simple rinse to remove contents will suffice.
Most laundry detergent bottles are #2, which means they are recyclable! Be sure to empty the contents before recycling.
Yes! These containers are recyclable. Be sure to empty them out first!
Contamination is one of the biggest obstacles to effective recycling. Items incorrectly placed in the blue recycling bin can contaminate the otherwise good recyclables, such as food waste contamination from a pizza box getting into other clean cardboard. TFC Recycling works to remove these contaminated items from the stream of recyclables collected at their processing center, and based on the amount of contamination in a truckload, it is possible that an entire truckload of recyclables may be diverted to a landfill.
These are not recyclable due to food waste contamination. Place in the brown bin!
Only clean aluminum foil (e.g., foil not used to store or cover food, paints, or crafts) is accepted in the blue bin. Aluminum foil with any contamination on it should be thrown in the brown trash bin.
Ice cream containers are not recyclable, and should be re-purposed or thrown in the brown trash bin.
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