Recycling Guide

What do those numbers on the bottom of plastic containers mean? Can computer equipment be thrown away? What about batteries?

No wonder more people don’t recycle. It’s a confusing mess — literally. To inject some sanity into the process, here's a brief reference to help figure out exactly how and where they should recycle everyday goods (bottles, cans, and paper) and safely dispose of those unusual bits (cell phones, motor oil, and high-efficiency fluorescent bulbs) that get stuck in a box for six months before exasperation heaves them into the weekly trash… and into our water supply.

Where to recycle and dispose of waste

Glass

• Regular glass — the clear, brown, and green stuff used in bottles and jars can be recycled virtually anywhere. This includes the City of Austin’s pickup service, various private waste management firms, Ecology Action, and several bins throughout the city.
• Pyrex and similar treated cooking glasses are not recyclable.
• Crystal is likewise not recyclable because it contains lead.

Plastics

“Plastic” is a very general term used to describe a family of chemical compounds. For recycling purposes, plastics are labeled according to the Society of the Plastics Industry resin identification coding system, commonly known as those little numbers printed inside the triangular recycling symbols on the bottom of your milk jug or Coke bottle. Only types 1 (PETE) and 2 (HDPE) are easily recyclable in most American cities.

• Types 1 and 2 can be recycled by anyone who accepts plastic recycling. This includes the City of Austin’s pickup service, various private waste management firms, Ecology Action, and several bins throughout the city.
• Types 3, 4, 5, and 7 (but not 6!) are accepted by the Austin Children’s Museum (201 Colorado Street) for reuse in art projects. Kids will be using this stuff, so please clean it thoroughly.
• Tops to plastic containers are typically not recyclable unless specifically marked with a 1 or 2
• Plastic shopping bags should never be recycled along with type 1 and 2 plastic containers! Any Whole Foods, Central Market, H-E-B, or Randall’s accept plastic bags for recycling in any quantity. (The City of Austin’s website says you must return bags to the same store. This simply isn’t true.) Plus, Whole Foods will deduct five cents from your order for each plastic or canvas you bring into the store and reuse upon checkout.
• Film canisters are accepted by Precision Camera (3801 N Lamar) and other camera stores, though you should call ahead to be sure.
• Motor oil bottles are not recyclable — even if they’re empty. See the hazardous waste section below.

Metals

• Aluminum cans (soda and beer, for example) are accepted virtually anywhere.
• Aluminum foil and pie tins are accepted at Ecology Action.
• Tin, which is used to store canned goods, is accepted by the City of Austin’s pickup service and at most places that accept “cans.” (Don’t throw your tin cans in a bin marked simply “aluminum.”) While aluminum has virtually replaced tin as the metal of choice for drinks, some fruit juice and beer cans are still made of tin.
• Aerosol cans are accepted by the City of Austin’s pickup service. Only empty or near-empty aerosol cans should be recycled, as their contents may rupture in the process. Partially full cans must be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Tuesday or Wednesday from 12pm–6pm and the first Saturday of every month from 7am–12pm.
• Scrap metal and large metal items can be dropped off at Ecology Action or at the Diversion Recycling Center at the City of Austin landfill. The city’s pickup services will not haul away large metal.

Paper and cardboard

• Newsprint, circulars, office paper, notebook paper, stationary, junk mail, and catalogs are accepted virtually anywhere. There is a drop off by the high school and Lake Pointe Elementary school.
• Envelopes, sticky notes, and other paper coated with adhesive material are accepted by the City of Austin’s pickup service. Such adhesive paper is not accepted at Ecology Action.
• Waxy paper and cartons (milk and juice quarts, for example) are not recyclable.
• Pizza boxes, take-out containers, and food- or oil-stained paper are not recyclable.
• Corrugated cardboard is accepted as-is at Ecology Action. The City of Austin’s pickup service requires you to flatten all boxes, cut them into 2? by 2? sections, and bundle the pieces with string — a great example of why more people don’t take the time to recycle.
• Moving boxes in good condition are accepted at the Tesoros Trading Company’s wholesale office (506 Baylor).

Appliances

• Waterheaters and all appliances (except TVs and microwaves) will be accepted by Austin Metal and Iron Works, 1000 E 4th, 477-4640.
• Diversion Recycling Center will also accept appliances and various other materials for recycle.
• The City of Austin’s pickup service will pick up bulky items during specially scheduled times. Over 10% of the bulky items are recycled. Metal refrigerators will be recycled — please remove the doors before placing them on the curb. You’ll receive a notice informing you of upcoming bulk pick-ups. But if you need to know sooner than that, you can call the city during normal bussiness hours at 494-9400.

Hazardous wastes: liquids, batteries, and electronics

You should never simply throw hazardous waste away — it’s poisonous to the soil and water. Because specific processes are often involved in the proper disposal and/or recycling of these materials, they should be handed over to professionals.

Motor oil

Motor oil is accepted by just about anyone who changes oil, though you should call first to be sure. Usually they’ll take other car fluids as well. Oil should be delivered inside a sealed, leak-proof container during normal business hours. Do not mix used motor oil with other automotive fluids or materials.

Chemicals

Household chemicals are accepted by the Household Hazardous Waste Facility every Tuesday or Wednesday from 12pm–6pm and the first Saturday of every month from 7am–12pm. Businesses may drop off waste by appointment only. See the Household Hazardous Waste Facility section below for more info.

High-efficiency compact fluorescent lights

These new-fangled lights save lots of energy, but they contain mercury, an environmental toxin and pollutant. Luckily, the Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts these bulbs for recycling free-of-charge.

Batteries

• Alkaline batteries are probably okay to throw away. Since 1984, battery manufacturers have reduced their mercury content by 97%; because of the reduced threat, many alkaline batteries given to recycling programs end up in landfills. As of late 2007, there’s no conclusive answer to this ongoing debate.
• Non-alkaline batteries (including car batteries) are accepted by the Household Hazardous Waste Facility and the Diversion Recycling Center. Some cell phone and laptop batteries can be recycled at Best Buy. You can also take your cell phones with their batteries to Ecology Action during business hours, or the UT Campus Environmental Center at any time.

To learn more about battery recycling, check out Earth 911 and Environment, Health, and Safety Online.

Computers, monitors, peripherals, and components

Computers are considered hazardous waste because their circuitry and parts contain lead, mercury, and other toxic, soil-polluting substances.

• Goodwill accepts virtually all electronic waste free-of-charge. Here’s a list of Goodwill’s donation locations in and around Austin.
• Ink and toner cartridges can be dropped off at many Best Buy and Office Depot locations. At the very least, they can provide you with a postage-paid envelope to mail your cartridges back to the manufacturer to be refurbished.
• If you’ve got lots of old computer parts lying around — say, several boxes — you should hire a private firm to dispose of it for you. For more information, consult the City of Austin’s list of computer recycling locations.

Cell phones and portable electronics

While Best Buy and other electronics retailers accept donations, there are plenty of non-corporate, charitable causes that are practically begging for your old or broken phones. We suggest CollectiveGood, which accepts all manner of portable electronics, including phones, pagers, and PDAs. The process is easy: Choose which charity you want to benefit, print out a free mailing label, and box up the goods. You’ll even get a very official tax credit. Don’t like CollectiveGood? A simple Google search for “cell phone donation” yields plenty of alternatives.

Cell phone battery recycling is discussed in the batteries section above.