Recycle Like You Live Here

Why Recycle?

It’s a simple way you can take care of our beautiful state. Recycling creates jobs and new products, reduces climate change, and conserves resources, energy, and landfill space. In Vermont, your recycling can be picked up curb-side or you can drop it off at a transfer station or recycling center.

What goes in recycling containers?

Empty and rinsed clean Containers like bottles, cans, and jars, and clean and dry Paper and Cardboard. Aluminum, steel, glass, paper, cardboard, and plastics #1 and 2 are banned from the landfill so they must be recycled.

How to prepare your recyclables

  • DO rinse recyclable containers clean. They don’t have to be perfect—just free of most residue.
  • DO breakdown and fold large cardboard boxes.
  • DO buy materials made from post-consumer recycled materials—you’ll help create markets for recyclables!
  • DON’T place styrofoam, drink cartons (milk, juice, pouches, etc.), or black plastic in the recycling. There is no current market for these materials.
  • DON’T put anything smaller than two inches on two sides in your recycling bin.
  • DON’T place plastic bags in the recycling bin. Bags clog up the sorting machines.
  • DON’T put anything with leftover food on it in the recycling. That’s gross! And it reduces the value of recyclables.

Don’t be a wishful recycler. When you put the wrong things in your bin, it is dangerous and often results in the recyclable ending up in the trash.

What not to include

No Plastic Bags, No Batteries, No Stuck on Food or Drink, No Scrap Metal, No Clothing, No electronics, No Hazardous Containers. This is only a partial list.

Ask your town or hauler what else you can recycle

You may be able to recycle other items in your town, either in your mixed recycling bin or at a special drop-off. Contact your hauler to learn more.

Wondering about a specific item? Explore your waste district or town‘s online A-Z guide, a searchable list of what to do with many items in your region. If something is missing from the A-Z list, ask them to add it!

Visit our “What Do I Do With This…?” page to learn more about state-wide drop-off recycling programs for other materials, like electronics, batteries, and paint.

Have questions?

Ready to spread the word?

Go to the Universal Recycling Downloads page for posters, fact sheets, and signage for recycling, food scrap, and trash containers, including the Vermonters’ Guide to Recycling poster.

Resources

It’s Banned in Vermont

6 Things to Recycle In Vermont