We love to

pick up after you.

How to prepare recyclables

Getting things ready for us is easy.

Please help make recycling happen by preparing your recyclable materials as requested.  What can be recycled and how these materials have to be prepared is determined by the businesses that make products from recycled materials.

Careful preparation and separation of recyclables is important. Manufacturers require clean and contaminant free materials to make new products.  You can help!

• EMPTY all bottles, cans, and containers - (lids and labels may remain on)
• BREAK DOWN and FLATTEN all corrugated cardboard
• SECURE the lid on the containers to prevent paper from blowing out
• SET your recyclables out to the curb by 7:00 A.M. on your recycling day

Even more info

• KEEP PLASTIC BAGS AND FILM OUT OF THE RECYCLING CARTS AND BINS
• Containers don’t need to be squeaky clean – just get most of it scraped out or emptied.
• No need to remove caps, lids, or pumps—just toss them in the recycling on the container.
• Fully empty all aerosol cans
• Squash bottles and cans if possible, to save space in recycling bins, carts, and blue bags. (Don’t flatten them like a pancake – our sorting system tends to see them like paper then!)
• Make sure that paper products are clean and dry
• If food is spilled on a magazine or grease stains a pizza box, put those items into the trash
• Flattened cardboard may be placed under or beside the recycling container if it doesn’t fit inside.
• Do not mix trash or other items into your recycling
• Not enough room? – place additional recyclables in a cardboard box. Place next to the recycling container on your recycling day.  You may also call your municipality and request additional containers.
• Be sure you know which items are accepted so that you place only the proper items in the bins and containers. Items placed in the wrong bins are considered contaminants. These contaminants will require extra sorting and may result in the rejection of an entire load of recyclables. For example, you currently cannot recycle aluminum foil, plastic bags, Styrofoam, window or mirror glass, dishes or cookware, drinking glasses, or dog food bags.
• What may be recycled and how these materials have to be prepared is determined by the businesses that make products from these recycled materials.

Curbside Management • 116 N. Woodfin Avenue • Asheville, NC 28804 • Telephone: 828.252.2532 • Fax: 828.251.2588 • EMAIL