Acceptable items are the same for the curbside program, drop-off locations and staffed recycling centers except as noted below: (See Exceptions)

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FIBER MATERIALS

PAPER

• White or mixed office paper, computer paper, file folders and manila and regular envelopes, mail items, junk mail, brown paper grocery bags, telephone books, and magazines/catalogs
• Food-free pizza boxes, paperboard, cereal and gift boxes
• Newspapers with slick advertising inserts
• Flattened cardboard pieces no larger than approximately 2 ft x 2 ft
• NO bound catalogs over 1 inch thick or glued bindings - NO plastic or foil backed paper
• NO soiled or wax-coated cardboard like frozen food boxes and milk/juice cartons
• NO wrapping paper

CO-MINGLED MATERIALS

GLASS

• Food and drink bottles and jars (clear, brown, green, blue) - remove lids and rinse. Leave labels on
• NO window glass, mirrors, light bulbs, drinking glasses/mugs, oven/cooking glassware, pottery

METAL & ALUMINUM

• Steel “tin” cans such as soup, vegetable or pet food (rinse and put lids inside), empty aerosol cans (remove plastic lids)
• Clean used aluminum foil, disposable roasting, pie and cake pans, beverage cans and clean aluminum food containers (flatten to save space if possible)
• NO pots, pans, coat hangers, or paint cans
• NO medical waste such as needles

PLASTIC

• Household containers such as milk jugs, cups, squeeze bottles, clear food packaging, soft drink, laundry and dishwashing detergent, margarine and whipped topping tubs, bottles and jars marked #1 thru #7 with the recycling symbol are accepted in the program.  SOME ITEMS MARKED ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND ARE NOTED BELOW. Clean thoroughly and leave labels and lids on.  Flatten to save space if possible.
• NO medical waste such as syringes
• NO motor oil or antifreeze jugs, plastic bags or buckets, pumps or sprayers, paint containers or plastic cutlery
• NO plastic or styrofoam packing material such as peanuts or rigid.  Styrofoam cups, plates and food containers are also NOT accepted.  (See below for styrofoam recycling.)

BATTERIES

• Household batteries, such as sizes AAA, AA, C & D are accepted at all staffed recycling locations and the Household Hazardous Waste site (HAZBIN) only.
• Household batteries are not accepted in the curbside or unstaffed drop-off programs.

EXCEPTIONS:  The following items can be recycled ONLY at the STAFFED  Recycling Locations.

Antifreeze - No containers larger than 5 gallons 
Motor Oil - No containers larger than 5 gallons
Oil Filters 
Automobile, Boat and Motorcycle, and Household Batteries
Inkjet and Laser Toner Cartridges 
DVD's,, CD's, Floppy Disk

STYROFOAM (MOLDED POLYSTYRENE)

Molded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) is NOT accepted in any of Louisville Metro's Recycling Programs.  This product is generally found as packing material for computers, appliances, fragile items, etc. (This does not include styrofoam packing peanuts)  However, product that is clean, white and contained (bagged) may be taken to:
                              
                                Foam Fabricators, Inc.
                                950 Progress Boulevard
                                New Albany, IN  47150
                                948-1696

There is a receiving bin where citizens may place this material for recycling.  For large quantities, please phone the number listed above and make an appointment for delivery.

On behalf of Louisville Metro Government, we wish to thank Foam Fabricators for being such good neighbors and allowing our residents to recycle this material!

Many 'pack-and-ship' type stores will accept peanuts or polystyrene packing materials, so call to check with the location nearest you.

PLEASE NOTE:

While we encourage proper sorting of the materials listed above and placement of said items in the proper compartment at the drop-off locations, minimal contamination or recyclable items placed in the wrong compartment will not cause the entire load to be landfilled.  The Material Recovery Facility (MRF) hand sorts the materials and removes any contamination and/or places the items into the proper categories.

THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR PART TO MAKE LOUISVILLE CLEANER AND GREENER!!