Residential recycling banner

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The city of Phoenix offers a weekly recycling collection, that occurs on the same day as landfill container collection, but using different trucks to avoid contamination. Collected recyclables are brought to the city-owned Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where they are sorted and processed for repurposing. The Zero Waste team handles all recycling education. 

Recycling Guidelines: Remember, all materials must be emptied of liquids and free of food scraps and grease before tossing them in the container. Plastic bags are not accepted in the recycle container. Materials must also be placed in the container loosely, and not bagged. 

The only exception to the plastic bag rule is shredded paper. Make sure shredded paper is in a clear bag.










Recycle search

The Zero Waste Assistant can help you determine how to recycle or dispose common household items. Use the search bar below to look for materials. Also, test your recycling knowledge and try our waste sorting game below!

Master list

Our new Master List has a lot of helpful recycling tips. 

Master List (en Espanol)Top 10 in the Bin
Recycling Myths

Thanks to Top 10 in Bin partners:

3TV Keep America Beautiful EPA

Acceptable Recyclables

The following list represents the items that can be placed in your recycle container.

Paper products

Office paper, mail, newspaper, magazines and pamphlets, paper bags, food and beverage cartons (these often contain milk, juice, soup, cream, beans, water, or broth, etc.), phonebooks


Hard plastic products

Jugs, bottles, jars, cups, to-go containers

Please keep lids on


Metal products

Steel/tin food cans, aluminum beverage cans, party trays, aluminum foil


Cardboard products

Boxes, clean pizza boxes (no grease, if the bottom is greasy, then recycle just the top half), food packaging boxes


Glass products

Bottles, jars

Please remove all lids


REMEMBER: All materials must be emptied of liquids and free of food scraps and grease before tossing them in the container.


Unacceptable Items

The following list represents items that cannot be placed in your recycle container. Please note that although these items are not recyclable in your blue container, they may be recyclable elsewhere. 

Batteries

All batteries: Vehicle batteries, rechargeable batteries, alkaline, lithium ion, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride batteries


Thin paper products

Tissue paper, toilet paper, paper towels, napkins


Soft plastics

All flexible and stretchable plastics: plastic kitchen bags, plastic shopping bags, thin film plastics, candy wrappers, chip bags, dog/cat food bags

Drop-off Locations

Large metal items

Metal sheets, electronics, car parts, hoses, lights, pots/pans


Greasy cardboard food containers

Greasy pizza boxes, greasy to-go containers


Specialty glass items

Light bulbs, ceramics, sheets of glass


Miscellaneous Plastic

Polystyrene (ex. StyrofoamTM),  plastic straws, plastic utensils

Other

Grass, yard waste, food waste, clothing, diapers, garden hoses

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off
Medication Drop-off