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 zero waste logo

Not everything is accepted in your blue recycling container. The list below is helpful in determining if something is recyclable. We also have a handy Top 10 in the Bin flier that you can place on your fridge or recycle container. Remember, all materials must be emptied of liquids and free of food scraps and grease before tossing them in the container. Materials must also placed in the container loosely, and not bagged. ​

















Acceptable Recyclables

The following list represents the items that can be placed in your blue curbside 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.)


Hard plastic products

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


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


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


Top 10 in the Bin Flier

Here's a printable flyer, in English and Spanish, of the top 10 materials that should always be placed​ in your blue residential recycling container. ​

10 In The Bin Flyer-english FINAL-1.jpg

Also, check out PBS's video segment on one recycling solution. 

Unacceptable Items

The following list represents items that cannot be placed in your blue curbside 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


Large metal items

Metal sheets, electronics, car parts, hoses, lights


Greasy cardboard food containers

Greasy pizza boxes, greasy to-go containers


Specialty glass items

Light bulbs, ceramics, sheets of glass


Miscellaneous

Polystyrene (ex. StyrofoamTM), grass, yard waste, food waste, clothing, diapers, garden hoses

Top 10 in the Bin Video

This video is also available in Spanish.​​

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