Recycling Information

Recycling Guidelines

Become a part of a worldwide effort to protect and save our environment. Simply follow these simple guidelines to help "Pitch In" for a better tomorrow! If you are not sure what day of the week is your recycling pickup day, or if you have any questions about recycling, please call the Recycling Division at 516-378-4210, option 3. View the  Recycling Holiday Collection Schedule for changes to your regular recycling pickup schedule.

  • When in doubt, leave it out of your recycling bin! Unacceptable items are considered contaminants and will be rejected at the sorting facility. Please be mindful when sorting your recyclables to only include accepted materials. 
  • Place your recyclables loosely in your bins. 
  • Do NOT place recyclable items in plastic bags. Plastic bags slow the recycling process and create issues for recycling plants. RECYCLABLES IN PLASTIC BAGS WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.
  • Items must be cleaned and not soiled, for example, pizza boxes with grease cannot be recycled.

Remember to follow the Dos and Don'ts of recycling. Not following these guidelines will cause contamination, resulting in the disposal of your recyclables as garbage. If there is no effort to adhere to the recycling guidelines, your recycling will not be collected and will be left at your curb. Please refer to the following chart for more information.

An Easy Guide to Recycling

ItemAcceptable ItemsHow to Prepare Items for Collection
Plastics Marked Number 1 and Number 2 OnlyPlastic bottles and jugs (marked with Number 1 or Number 2 only, located on the bottom of containers)
  • Water and soda bottles
  • Milk and juice containers
  • Detergent bottles
  • Remove caps and lids and discard in regular refuse.
  • Place items loosely in the recycling receptacle.
  • DO NOT place recyclables in plastic bags.
Cans and GlassAluminum, steel and tin cans, glass bottles and jars
  • Empty and rinse containers.
  • Place items loosely in the recycling receptacle.
  • DO NOT place recyclables in plastic bags.
Mixed PaperNewspapers, magazines, copy paper, color inserts
  • Tie and bundle, and place next to the recycling receptacle.
  • NEVER PLACE PAPER ITEMS IN YOUR RECYCLING CONTAINER.
CardboardCorrugated (shipping boxes) and non-corrugated (cereal boxes, etc.)
  • Break down 3 feet X 3 feet and bundle next to the recycling receptacle.
  • NEVER PLACE CARDBOARD IN YOUR RECYCLING CONTAINER.


These items are NOT Recyclable:

Aerosol cansPlastic and metal cutlery
Aluminum foilPlastic bags
BatteriesPlastic chairs and toys
Beer bottle capsPlastic flower pots
Books (hardcover and paperback)Plastic or wire hangers
Broken GlassPlastic straws
Light bulbs (LED bulbs are accepted at S.T.O.P. events.)Plastics marked with Numbers 3 thru 7 on the bottom of containers
Mirrors
Pizza boxes
Paint cans
Styrofoam products (cups, plates, meat trays )
Paper plates and cups
Telephone books (accepted at S.T.O.P. events)
Paper receipts
Window and auto glass
Parchment or wax paper
Wire and plastic hangers


Note: If your recycling bin is returned with any remaining materials, these items cannot be recycled and should be discarded in your regular refuse. Do NOT use plastic bags for recyclables. RECYCLABLES IN PLASTIC BAGS WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.

Grasscycling

Grasscycling is a simple and natural management practice that diverts grass clippings from the solid waste stream. Instead of raking, bagging, and putting grass clippings out for disposal, grass clippings are left on the lawn to be recycled.

Here's What You Need to Know:

  • Mow the lawn frequently to produce small clippings that will decompose quickly.
  • Keep mower blades sharp and cut the grass only when it is dry and 3 to 3 ½ inches tall.
  • Never cut the grass shorter than 2 to 2 ½ inches or remove more than one-third the length of the grass height at once. This will allow your lawn to develop a deeper root system, and a stronger defense against weeds, diseases, and drought.
  • Grass clippings decompose quickly and allow valuable nutrients to return to the soil, reducing requirements for additional fertilizing. In addition, clippings help to retain moisture on lawns.
  • Water your lawn deeply and infrequently. Grass that is watered too frequently tends to develop shallow roots.
  • Grass clippings can also be used as garden mulch and can be added to your compost pile.

Leaf mulching is another low-cost way to keep organic waste out of landfills. By shredding leaves with your lawnmower and leaving them in place on your lawn, the leaves will continue to decompose, adding valuable nutrients to the soil. Leaf mulching also saves residents time, as there is no need to rake and bag up fallen leaves.