The bottles and containers you recycle do not need to be spotless, but they DO need to be empty and free of liquid and most food residue. A quick wipe or rinse does the trick.

Recycling facilities are designed to sort hard plastic containers. If it is a clean and empty plastic bottle, jar, jug, tub, or fruit container, it can be recycled in Massachusetts.

Flexible plastics like bags, wraps, and pouches CANNOT be recycled.

Plastic and metal caps and lids (i.e. soda bottle lids, milk jugs caps, mason jars lids, etc.) should be reattached to empty containers before you recycle them. Glass bottle caps (i.e. beer caps) should go in the trash because they cannot be reattached securely.

EMPTY pizza boxes CAN be recycled! Remove all foods, liners, and pizza savers (plastic tables) before placing the box in the recycling bin.

Do NOT include tanglers: old hoses, string lights, ropes, chains, or electronic cords. These items jam the machinery used to sort recycles.

Do NOT recycle compostable cups, plates, or utensils. These items must be handled by a commercial composting facility or put in the trash.

Do NOT bag your recyclables before placing them in the recycling bin.

Do NOT recycle black plastic. Black plastic contains carbon which is not recognized by the sorting facilities. These items cannot be sorted and go through the system to a landfill.

Do NOT recycle Styrofoam. Try reusing it or finding a drop of location to recycle it.

For more information and FAQs, visit Recycle Smart MA.