As it turns out, recycling isn’t always easy. Your local recycling program has some guidelines you may not know about — and that means some items you try to recycle could end up in landfills due to a simple error.
Let’s talk about the do’s and don’ts of recycling in Nashville.
Do Check Nashville’s Recycling Services Website
Nashville.gov’s Waste Wizard feature explains the details you need to start recycling. Enter your address to find out when your trash (weekly), recycling (biweekly) and brush (monthly) curbside collection days are. You can also sign up for reminders.
Do Recycle Your (Clean) Cardboard
Clean cardboard can go in your curbside pickup bin. But what about your pizza box? No! That’s because of contaminants like grease and oil. When it comes to items like milk cartons, just make sure to rinse out any leftover liquids and wait for the containers to dry. You don’t need to remove tape from cardboard boxes, but make sure to break them down and flatten them before they go into the bin.
Don’t Add Styrofoam to Your Bin
The recycling center can’t recycle Styrofoam.
Do Recycle (Some) Plastic Products
The only acceptable plastics are plastic bottles, jars and jugs, as long as they’re free from food or liquid. You know that last drop of laundry detergent you can never get out? Make sure you rinse it out thoroughly before the jug goes into the recycling bin. These plastic items are off-limits:
- No gift cards
- No Tupperware/Rubbermaid containers
- No plastic clamshells
- No plastic takeout containers
- No prescription bottles
- No plastic bags
- No plastic wrap
- No bubble wrap
- No plastic mailers or shipping envelopes
Don’t Remove the Caps From Your Bottles
Plastic bottle tops are too small for sorting machines to catch by themselves, so make sure to leave those attached to any plastic containers.
Do Recycle Your Paper and Paper Cartons
All kinds of paper can be recycled — even those old seventh-grade notes you’ve been keeping. You can also recycle your junk mail, like the million credit card offers you get each month.
Don’t Shred Your Paper
Shredded paper is too small for sorting machines. If you do shred paper, according to Metro’s Waste Wizard, “Please do not place in a curbside recycling cart. This item can be composted or is accepted at recycling drop-off sites only due to its smaller size.”
Do Recycle Aluminum and Steel Food and Drink Cans
Food and drink cans are eligible for curbside recycling. They’re actually among the most desirable items for manufacturers — the materials are expensive. Just remember to clean them up before they go into the bin.
Don’t Add Other Metals to Your Bin
Metal hangers, aerosol cans, tinfoil, pots and pans can’t go into your curbside recycling bin.
Don’t Add Glass to Your Bin
Don’t place glass in your curbside pickup bin. Shattered glass can contaminate other recyclables.
Do Take Glass to Drop-Off Sites and Convenience Centers
If you want to recycle your glass, it can be taken to drop-off locations, which you can find via Nashville.gov. There are also private services in Nashville that will pick up your glass for you.
Don’t Be Intimidated by Drop-Off Sites and Convenience Centers
Metro Nashville offers four convenience centers and 10 recycling drop-off sites across the county. This is mostly free, with a few exceptions for bulk items. Primary household recycling items don’t require a fee.
Before going, gather your recyclables. Again, the basics are cans, plastic containers (not bags), paper, cardboard and glass. Workers will ask for ID and check the contents of your car (to make sure you have recycling and not trash). If it’s a busy day, there could be a line.
Do Take Batteries and Electronic Waste to Certain Convenience Centers
Residential electronic waste and batteries go to the East, Ezell Pike and Omohundro convenience centers — acceptable electronics include phones, printers and batteries. Business and commercial electronics or electronics from out-of-county residents are not accepted.
Don’t Throw Compostable Items Into the Trash Can
Leftover food and other compostable materials like eggshells, napkins, paper takeout containers and more can be dropped off at any convenience center. Add them into a compostable bag or paper bag, or dump them loose into the container at the convenience center.
Do Recycle Bulk Items
Bulk items that don’t fit in your bin — dishwashers, toilets, chairs, tires, mattresses, mirrors and more — can often be taken to any of the convenience centers. Some items can be brought only to select convenience centers, like East, Ezell Pike and Omohundro. Just check the Nashville.gov site before going.
Don’t Forget to Bring Your Tennessee Driver’s License
Now that you’re a recycling expert, make sure to have your license ready before leaving the house. You’ll need to show proof of residency. From one college student to another: If you’re from out of state and go to school here, ask a Tennessee-resident friend to go with you. If you don’t have a friend with a Tennessee license or you are a tourist who wants to recycle wine and whiskey bottles before going home, head to a drop-off site instead. (Read more about this in Margaret Littman’s piece in this week’s issue.)
Do Look Into Alternative Recycling Options
Some cosmetics and beauty products use more than one kind of plastic or aluminum and can’t be accepted by Nashville Recycling Services. Instead, take them to Nordstrom or your nearest Sephora. Nordstrom BEAUTYCYCLE will take your empty skin care, hair care and makeup containers. Sephora has a similar recycling policy. Clean cosmetic containers can be deposited for recycling at any Sephora store, even if the product didn’t come from their shelves.
Looking at the do’s and don’ts of recycling, restoring Tennessee’s waterways, protecting our caves and more
