Maya Ellison
Providence has a comprehensive recycling program that allows residents to recycle a wide range of materials, including plastics. The city provides detailed guidelines to ensure that recyclables are properly sorted and prepared for collection. In addition to plastics, the program accepts paper, cardboard, glass, and metal. Residents are encouraged to separate recyclables from non-recyclables and to keep certain materials, such as textiles and electronic waste, out of their curbside bins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic containers | All containers smaller than 2 gallons |
| Plastic bags | Clean, dry bags can be recycled in special bins outside retailers |
| Plastic coat hangers | Not accepted |
| Plastic containers that held flammable materials or oily chemicals | Not accepted |
| Plastic containers and bottles | #1-#7, including shampoo bottles, liquid detergent containers, condiment bottles, etc. |
| Plastic tops | Accepted |
| Plastic film | Accepted |
| Other materials | Paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum, and tin cans |
| Clothing and textiles | Not accepted; can be donated to Goodwill or H&M |
| Electronics | Monitors, computer towers, laptops, televisions, and tablets |
| Location | Providence County: Resource Recovery, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston RI |
| Bristol County: Recycling Center, 84 Upland Way, Barrington | |
| Kent County: Transfer Station, Rear of 1670 Flat River Rd., Coventry | |
| Newport County: Transfer Station, 122 Amy Hart Path, Little Compton |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic containers and bottles
In Providence, plastic containers and bottles can be recycled through the city's Big Green Can curbside recycling program. This program accepts all plastic containers smaller than 2 gallons, including plastic bottles and jugs, as well as other small household plastic containers. Examples of acceptable items include shampoo bottles, liquid detergent containers, and condiment bottles. It's important to note that containers must be empty and rinsed whenever possible, and plastic tops should be placed back on containers prior to recycling. Additionally, Rhode Island practices mixed recycling, which means paper, metal, glass, and plastic can all be placed in the same bin for curbside collection.
When preparing plastic containers and bottles for recycling, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Firstly, make sure that any containers are empty and rinsed to remove food or product residue. This helps ensure that the materials can be effectively processed for recycling and can also reduce odours and insects around your recycling storage area. It's also important to separate different types of plastics and recyclables. For example, plastic coat hangers are not containers and should not be placed in the recycling bin. Similarly, plastic bags should not be placed in the curbside bin but can be recycled in special bins placed outside retailers across the state.
It's also worth noting that certain types of plastic containers cannot be recycled. This includes foam containers and plastic containers that once held flammable materials or oily chemicals such as gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, or herbicides. By following these guidelines, residents can ensure that they are recycling correctly, which helps keep recycling workers safe, saves the city money, provides high-quality raw materials to manufacturers, and preserves space in the Central Landfill.
In addition to the Big Green Can program, Providence also offers other recycling options for larger items that do not fit in the standard bin. Residents can schedule a free pick-up for large, bulky items by calling Waste Management at least 24 hours before their regularly scheduled trash collection day. However, mattresses are not included in the free pick-up service.
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Plastic bags and film
According to the RIRRC, the following retailers currently provide resources for plastic bag recycling in Rhode Island:
- Whole Foods
- Stop & Shop
- Walmart
- Target
- Shaw's
- Trader Joe's
- Dave's Marketplace
- East Side Market
- University Market
Plastic coat hangers are not accepted in recycling bins, as they are not containers.
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Electronics
In Providence, RI, STS Electronic Recycling, Inc. offers free computer, laptop, tablet, and electronics recycling, as well as ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) services. This includes recycling old, unwanted, or non-working computers, laptops, cell phones, and PCs. They also offer free data destruction that meets HIPAA and NIST standards.
STS Electronic Recycling specializes in providing ITAD services to businesses and organizations within the Continental United States. ITAD combines electronic recycling and IT liquidation, and often includes auditing devices and generating audit reports to determine a fair value for IT assets.
For residents of Nether Providence Township, electronics cannot be recycled through the curbside recycling program. However, the township occasionally collaborates with surrounding towns to hold electronics recycling events. Residents can stay informed about these events by checking the news feed on the township's website. Additionally, Retrievr (formerly known as "Curb My Clutter") is another resource for electronics recycling in the area.
In Lower Providence, PA, state law requires that televisions and computers be recycled and prohibits their disposal as trash. Goodwill Keystone Area Stores & Donation Centers offer free drop-off services for these items at various locations, including East Norriton, Montgomeryville, Pottstown, and Trappe.
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Paper and cardboard
In Providence, paper and cardboard are accepted in the Big Green Can curbside recycling program. However, they should be mostly clean and dry—a little grease on a pizza box is acceptable. Flattening cardboard before placing it in the bin is also recommended to save space in the recycling truck and ensure your cardboard is properly recycled.
When recycling paper and cardboard, it is important to remove any contaminants such as plastic tape, styrofoam, packaging, laminates, or tags. Additionally, shredded paper, napkins, tissues, and paper towels should be avoided as they can contaminate the recycling process.
It is worth noting that wax-coated cardboard can still be recycled, but it may take longer to biodegrade, up to several years instead of the typical two months. If you have large amounts of cardboard, you can schedule a bulk cardboard pickup through services like LoadUp, which offers cardboard box pickup and recycling at a fair and low price. Their rates start at $75, with a cost of $3 per piece of cardboard.
For those living in apartment complexes without access to recycling bins, you can try calling the main city hall number to address the issue with your landlord or property management. Alternatively, you can take your recyclables to a drop-off point, such as the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), which accepts recycling drop-offs for RI residents.
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Glass bottles and jars
In Providence, glass bottles and jars can be recycled through the city's Big Green Can curbside recycling program. This program accepts glass bottles and jars, as well as other materials such as clean paper, clean and dry cardboard, plastic containers smaller than 2 gallons, aluminum, and tin cans.
To prepare glass bottles and jars for recycling, make sure they are empty and rinsed. Remove any metal tops or lids and recycle them separately. It is important to note that drinking glasses are not considered bottles or jars, so they should not be placed in the recycling bin or cart.
The City of Providence encourages residents to recycle properly to save money, provide high-quality raw materials to manufacturers, and preserve space in the central landfill. By recycling glass bottles and jars, you can contribute to these environmental and economic benefits.
Additionally, Rhode Island practices mixed recycling, allowing glass, paper, metal, and plastic to be placed in the same bin. This system is convenient and efficient, but it is important to ensure that recyclables are loose in the bin and not bagged.
Overall, recycling glass bottles and jars in Providence is straightforward and helps support sustainable practices in the community.
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Frequently asked questions
You can recycle plastic containers smaller than 2 gallons, including plastic bottles and jugs, as well as other small household containers. You can also recycle plastic bags and film in special bins outside retailers. However, plastic coat hangers, plastic bags full of other recyclables, and containers that held flammable materials or oily chemicals cannot be recycled.
You can recycle paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum and tin cans, and cartons. Keep in mind that shredded paper, napkins, paper towels, tissues, and wet paper are not recyclable.
Yes, recyclables should be loose in the bin and not bagged. Containers should be empty and rinsed out if possible, with metal tops removed from glass bottles and jars and recycled separately. Cardboard should be flattened.
Providence County: Resource Recovery, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston, RI. They are open Monday to Friday from 6 AM to 3:45 PM and Saturday from 6 AM to 12 PM. You can contact them at 401-942-1430.
