Recyclable Materials

Acceptable items are the same for the curbside program, drop-off locations, and staffed recycling centers except as noted below. 

SINGLE STREAM MATERIALS (All items may be placed in a single container)

PAPER

  • White or mixed office paper, computer paper, file folders, and 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

GLASS

  • Food and drink bottles and jars (clear, brown, green, blue)

METAL & ALUMINUM

  • Steel “tin” cans used for items 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)

PLASTIC

  • Household containers such as milk jugs, cups, squeeze bottles, clear food packaging, soft drink, laundry and dishwashing detergent, margarine and whipped topping tubs, and most bottles and jars marked #1 through #7 with the recycling symbol are accepted in the program.  

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Helpful "Green" Hints for single stream recyclable materials:

  • Please do not place materials in plastic bags
  • Rinse off food residue
  • It is OK to leave labels and lids on glass or plastic containers
  • Flatten plastic and cardboard to save space

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SPECIAL
ITEMS

The Following Items are Accepted at Staffed Locations Only.

  • Antifreeze - Up to 5 gallons 
  • Motor Oil - Up to 5 gallons
  • Oil Filters 
  • Inkjet and Laser Toner Cartridges
  • DVDs and CDs
  • Floppy Disks
  • Cooking Oil*

*Any type of vegetable cooking oil that is liquid at room temperature, such as olive, soybean, and canola. Residential service only.

  • Hazardous household items such as batteries and paint (no latex paint) may be taken to the hazardous waste drop-off site (HAZ BIN) located at 7501 Grade Lane (see map below).
        
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For large quantities, please phone the number listed above and make an appointment for delivery.
Many 'pack-and-ship' stores will also accept peanuts or polystyrene packing materials.  Call to check with the location nearest you.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTED AT ANY METRO GOVERNMENT FACILITY:

  • NO medical waste such as syringes or needles
  • NO window glass, mirrors, light bulbs, drinking glasses/mugs, oven/cooking glassware, or pottery
  • NO coat hangers
  • NO latex paint
  • NO large jugs/buckets, pumps or sprayers, or plastic cutlery
  • NO plastic bags (many grocery stores have containers for plastic bags)
  • THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR PART TO MAKE LOUISVILLE CLEANER AND GREENER!!