Recycling
The Township's Recycling Ordinance applies to both residential and commercial properties.
The following items are recyclable and can be placed in your curbside bin and mixed together:
- Glass Food and Beverage Containers (lids removed)
- Aluminum Food and Beverage Containers
- Natural and Pigmented Plastic Narrow-Neck Containers with Symbols 1 through 7 (milk, water, detergent, shampoo, bleach bottles, etc.)
- Ferrous Cans (iron, steel and tin)
- Newsprint (black and white or pigmented)
- Construction Paper
- Craft Paper
- Cereal Boxes
- Shoe Boxes or similar items
- Print Paper
- Computer Paper
- Copy Paper
- Junk Mail
- Magazines
- Catalogs
- Corrugated Cardboard (small enough to fit into the recycling bin and not bound)
Please do not put these items in with your recycling:
- Plastic Grocery Bags
- These are the most common item in the bin or cart that should not be there. Plastic grocery bags get caught in the recycling sorter and they have to shut the system down and manually pull the bags out. You may take your plastic grocery bags back to grocery, pharmacy, or big-box stores where there are specially designated bins for recycling plastic bags.
- Take-Out Containers & Donut Boxes
- Food residue can contaminate the boxes or other recyclable material. They can only be recycled when they are free of food waste and residue.
- Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
- Although Styrofoam is recyclable, it requires highly specialized equipment that single-stream recycling facilities are not equipped with. Some restaurants (such as Chick-fil-A) accept their own Styrofoam cups for recycling.
- Paper Coffee Cups
- Paper cups pose issues for recycling due to the plastic coating applied to prevent leaking.
- Shredded Paper
- Shredding paper reduces its size so dramatically that it ends up mixed with the residue or glass at recycling facilities. Once the shredded paper gets mixed with glass or residue, it cannot be recovered for recycling and often gets destroyed or disposed of.
- Pizza Boxes
- This is one of the most common recycling mistakes. Although they are made of cardboard, the grease from the pizza contaminates the raw material. You can tear off the untarnished parts and recycle them.
- Household Glass
- Items like window panes, mirrors, light bulbs and dishes are dangerous and should be left out of the recycling. Light bulbs can be recycled at many hardware and home improvement stores. Dishes, if not broken, can be donated to local charities.
- Wet Paper
- Paper that has gotten wet can make recycling difficult or impossible. Take care to cover your recyclables to keep them safe from the elements. Wet paper should be discarded with the trash.
- Aerosol Cans
- While these are made of metal, because of the chemicals used to pressurize the cans, they are classified as household hazardous waste and should be discarded as such - not with recyclables or with the garbage.
- Ceramics & Pottery
- This includes things like coffee mugs and old flower pots.
- Paint, Pesticides, Automotive Fluids, Diesel Fuel, Gasoline, Kerosene & Car Batteries
- These items will not be accepted and should be disposed of at a hazardous waste disposal facility.
- Automotive Parts & Scrap Metal
- These items are too large and cumbersome for recycling equipment and could cause injury.
- Hypodermic Needles
- At one time, people were told that it was safe to put needles into a plastic bottle for disposal. It is not safe. Workers can be exposed to grave illnesses and blood-borne diseases. For proper disposal, North Middleton Township has a pill and needle disposal in the lobby of the municipal building.