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Curbside Recycling
Curbside recycling is one component of the Integrated Solid
Waste Management System approved by voters in 1991. All Springfield
waste haulers are required to offer curbside recycling. It
is convenient, saving your time, gasoline, and storage space.
Items accepted are newsprint, glass, tin/steel cans, aluminum
cans, pop bottles, and milk jugs. Call your waste
hauler for specifics.
Recycling is easy...
Setting up and maintaining a home recycling center
is fast and simple. The time required per household is approximately
two minutes per day. The amount of space required to store
recyclables for an entire month is about a 3' x 3' area (in
a garage, on the porch, in the pantry, under the sink, in
a corner of the kitchen, etc.). Some Springfield waste haulers
provide convenient recycling bins, or you can store your recyclables
in sturdy boxes or buckets.
Preparing your recyclables
Contamination of materials is the number one problem
with recycling. Below are general guidelines. Check with your
waste hauler for specific guidelines.
Aluminum cans
- Rinse. Crush to save space.
Tin/steel cans
- These typical food containers are 99% steel, 1% tin and
will be attracted by a magnet.
- Rinse. Place lids inside cans. No need to remove labels.
- Do not recycle cans used for chemicals.
Glass containers (food and beverage only)
- Rinse. No need to remove labels.
- Very important-remove all metal/plastic caps and rings;
discard appropriately.
- Do not recycle broken glass, window glass, drinking glasses,
Pyrex, glass used for chemicals, light bulbs, mirrors, or
ceramics.
Newspaper
- Remove slick paper. Place newspaper in paper grocery
bags.
- If your recyclables pickup day is a very wet day, store
your newspapers until the next dry pickup day.
- Do not include junk mail, telephone books or magazines
in your curbside bin. These items, along with other mixed
paper, are accepted at the City's Recycling
Centers.
Plastic containers
- Recycle only #1 (pop bottles) and #2 (milk jugs) clear
containers. Look for the number on the bottom of the container.
- Rinse. Remove lids and rings. Flatten to save space.
No need to remove labels.
- Some waste haulers accept #2 colored containers.
Additional items, including other types of plastics,
cardboard, pasteboard (cereal boxes, etc.), and mixed paper
are accepted at the City's Recycling
Centers.
*Precycling is an important
step in reducing the solid waste stream. Buy products with
minimal packaging.
*Colored glass, plastic and paper are not as recyclable because
dyes are a contaminant. Buy clear containers when possible.
*Glass, aluminum and tin cans may be recycled 100% over and
over again.
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