How to Recycle in Your Apartment

The challenge is to find creative ways to use your limited space.

1. Determine what materials you'd like to recycle.

The City recycling drop-off sites accept the following materials:

  • Newspaper
  • Cardboard boxes and fiberboard
  • Packaging (i.e. cereal boxes)
  • Aluminum and tin cans
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Plastic #1-5 containers
  • Residential mixed paper (i.e. junk mail, magazines, catalogs, telephone books)
Recycling bins Decide what materials you'd like to recycle and choose a place for storage

2. Choose a handy spot in your apartment for recycling containers.

Kitchen:

  • Use door knobs and behind the door hooks to hang reusable bags with lighter recyclables such as flattened plastic containers.
  • Slide containers into cabinets, under tables, bakers racks or other utility stands.
  • A container under the sink can be a convenient place to store rinsed plastic, metal and glass.
  • To make more space in your kitchen, store tools and appliances that you use infrequently in other parts of your apartment.
Under sink recycling storage A container under the sink can be a convenient place to store rinsed plastic, metal and glass

Closet / Laundry / Pantry:

These offer other out-of-sight storage for recyclables.

  • Clear extra space on shelving units.
  • Place containers on the floor inside a closet or pantry.

Bathroom:

Many products used in the bathroom are packaged in recyclable material such as plastic and paperboard.

  • Place a container next to the regular bathroom trash for items such as shampoo bottles, soap boxes and toilet paper tubes.

Office Area:

This area near the computer and printer produces a lot of paper waste.

  • Locate the recycling container for office paper and newspaper next to or under the desk.
  • Additional space might be available in a slide out drawer.
  • Hang a reusable bag on a knob, hook or handle.
Recycling bag on a door handle Hang a reusable bag on a knob, hook or handle

3. Find the nearest drop off site.

When containers become full take them to a recycling drop-off site.

  • You'll find one of the drop-off sites in the City on your routes to work, school or errands.
  • You will want to regularly wipe out the container with hot water and sanitizing solution.
Recycling paper Take your full containers to one of the City's multi-material drop-off sites

4. Establish a routine.

Make sorting and dropping off recyclables part of your household chores.

  • Rinse or wash cans and bottles and remove the lids. Labels can remain on the container.
  • Flatten cans and plastic bottles to save space.
  • Anything that comes with the newspaper can be recycled with the newspaper (except the plastic bag).
  • Remove packing material from cardboard boxes and paperboard packaging.
  • You do not need to remove paper clips and staples on office paper and magazines.

5. Stay connected.