Recycling 101: You can help reduce the cost of recycling.
Help Reduce the Cost of Recycling
You can help reduce the cost of recycling. Become educated on what IS and what IS NOT recyclable.
The chart below shows some of the most common household items and how they should be disposed.
IMPORTANT COST SAVING TIPS FOR RECYCLING:
- Be sure to empty and rinse containers, wipe or scrape out food, and drain liquids.
- Put recyclable items in the recycling bin without bagging them in plastic trash bags. Plastic bags get tangled in the machinery used to sort recyclables, resulting in downtime and higher labor and maintenance costs. Paper bags are acceptable to use and are encouraged for items that easily fly away, like paper shreds.
| Item Description | How To Dispose | Helpful Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosol Cans | Drop off at SPSA or at a Chesapeake Recycles Day Event (see below) | |
| Batteries | Drop off at SPSA or at a Chesapeake Recycles Day Event (see below) | |
| Bubble Wrap, Air Pouches & Plastic Shipping Materials | Most grocery stores, Target, Walmart, Lowes and UPS Stores | Click Here to Find a Store |
| Cardboard | Blue Recycle Bin | Clean, Dry & Folded |
| Cartons | Blue Recycle Bin | Emptied & Rinsed |
| Ceramic Items | Trash - Brown Bin | |
| Clothes | Trash - Brown Bin or Donate to Charity | |
| Diapers | Trash - Brown Bin | |
| Electronics | Goodwill will take electronics. If they no longer work, they will dispose of them properly. | Click Here to Find a Location Near you |
| Food Containers - Clamshell | Trash - Brown Bin | These Cause Problems in the Recycling Process |
| Food Waste | Trash - Brown Bin or Compost | |
| Glass Bottles | Blue Recycle Bin | Emptied & Rinsed |
| Glass - Miscellaneous (Windows, Mirrors, etc.) | Drop off at SPSA or at a Chesapeake Recycles Day Event (see below) | |
| Greasy Food Containers | Trash - Brown Bin | |
| Hangers | Drop off at SPSA or at a Chesapeake Recycles Day Event (see below) | |
| Hazardous Waste (Motor Oil, Paint, etc.) | Drop off at SPSA or at a Chesapeake Recycles Day Event (see below) | |
| Hypodermic Needles | Trash - Brown Bin | Place in a Rigid Container Before Disposing |
| Light Bulbs | Trash - Brown Bin | Wrap in Plastic if Broken |
| Metal Cans | Blue Recycle Bin | Emptied & Rinsed |
| Paper (Newspaper, Magazines, Phone Books, Junk Mail and Other Paper) | Blue Recycle Bin | |
| Prescription Medications | Drop off at Police Headquarters. Some pharmacies will also accept them. | Find a Pharmacy Near You |
| Pizza Boxes | Trash - Brown Bin | |
| Plastic Bags - Grocery & Shopping | Return to Store | |
| Plastic Bags - Food (Chips, Cereal, Storage Bags, etc.) | Trash - Brown Bin | |
| Plastic Bottles & Jugs | Blue Recycle Bin | Emptied & Rinsed |
| Propane Containers | Drop off at SPSA or at a Chesapeake Recycles Day Event (see below) | |
| Styrofoam | Trash - Brown Bin | |
| Tanglers (Ropes, Chains, Extension Cords, etc.) | Trash - Brown Bin | |
| Toys | Donate or Drop off at SPSA or at a Chesapeake Recycles Day Event (see below) | |
| Yard Waste | Compost or Schedule a Bulk Trash Pickup |
Chesapeake Recycles Day
During Chesapeake Recycles Day, Goodwill, SPSA, TFC Recycling and Shred-It come together to help collect a wide variety of items. Dates and locations are below. Hours are 9AM to Noon. Click here for complete details including a list of acceptable items.
- March 9
Southgate Shopping Plaza (South Norfolk)
2544 Bainbridge Blvd - April 13
Chesapeake Square Mall (Western Branch)
4200 Portsmouth Blvd - October 12
Sentara College of Health Sciences (Greenbrier)
1441 Crossways Blvd - November 2
Tidewater Community College (Great Bridge)
1428 Cedar Rd