Recycling Plastics In Rochester: Where Do They Go?

where are rochester area plastics recycled

The City of Rochester, New York, offers a Residential Recycling program that provides curbside collection of mixed recyclables, including paper, metal, glass, and plastic. Residents are provided with a wheeled container, and all recyclable materials can be mixed together. However, it's important to note that certain plastics, such as single-use plastics, plastic bags, and small plastics like coffee pods, are not accepted as part of the curbside recycling program. For these items, residents can refer to Monroe County's Recyclopedia for guidance on acceptable items and alternative disposal methods. Additionally, some retailers in the Rochester area provide containers for shoppers to recycle plastic bags, and the county also offers a Household Hazardous Waste Program to properly dispose of items like paints, solvents, and pesticides.

Characteristics Values
Residential recycling Curbside collection of mixed recyclables from residences provided by the City of Rochester
Recyclable materials Paper, metal, glass, and plastic
Recycling containers 96-gallon wheeled container provided by the City of Rochester
Recycling schedule Every other week, on the same day as refuse collection
Recycling day Recyclables should be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on collection day
Recycling delays When certain holidays fall on a weekday, services may be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week
Recycling resources Monroe County's "Recyclopedia," a guide to recycling acceptable items and alternatives for disposing of unacceptable items
Recycling drop-off The ecopark accepts items that are not acceptable for curbside pick-up
Recycling information Call 311 (outside city limits, 585-428-5990) for more information or visit the Monroe County website
Single-use plastics Not recyclable; includes Solo® cups/take-out cups, straws, utensils, Keurig© K-Cups®, condiment packets, coffee pods, plastic bags, foam egg cartons, etc.
Plastic bags recycling Retailers such as grocery stores provide containers for shoppers to recycle plastic bags; plastic bags and film should be brought to retailers for recycling as required by New York law
Plastic recycling Bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs accepted for recycling; caps, lids, and spray pumps should be reattached prior to recycling
Plastic foam Cannot be recycled; includes foam meat trays, egg cartons, coffee cups, takeout containers, and other small post-consumer items
Composting Impact Earth collects compostable materials door-to-door for a fee; Rochester Greenovation accepts scraps for pickup
Electronic waste Not accepted in curbside garbage pickup programs; includes cell phones, TVs, laptops, paints, solvents, pesticides, etc.

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Curbside recycling

The City of Rochester, New York, offers a Residential Recycling program that provides curbside collection of mixed recyclables, including paper, metal, glass, and plastic. Residents are provided with a wheeled container, and all recyclable materials can be mixed together in the same container. Recyclables should be placed at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on collection day, which is every other week, on the same day as refuse collection.

The Rochester area is an active recycling community, with numerous recycling activities. The mainstay for residential recycling in the Rochester area is the Monroe County Residential Recycling "Blue Box" program. As of 2014, the county adopted a Single Stream Recycling process, so there is no need to segregate materials within the recycling box. Materials that can be recycled as part of this program include paper, metal, glass, and plastic. Plastic items that are accepted include bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs.

It is important to note that certain items are not acceptable for curbside recycling in Rochester. These include plastic bags, foam egg cartons, single-use plastics (such as cups, straws, utensils, and coffee pods), prescription bottles, and small plastics like pill bottles. Electronic waste (e-waste) is also not accepted as part of curbside recycling and should be disposed of separately.

For items that are not accepted for curbside recycling, residents can refer to Monroe County's "Recyclopedia" for information on alternatives for disposal. Additionally, the Monroe County ecopark accepts certain items for recycling, including clean, dry plastic bags, and electronic waste.

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Plastic recycling guidelines

The City of Rochester, New York, offers a Residential Recycling program that provides curbside collection of mixed recyclables, including paper, metal, glass, and plastic. Here are some guidelines to follow for plastic recycling in the Rochester area:

Plastic Recycling Do's:

  • Recycle plastics by their shape: bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs are acceptable.
  • Reattach caps, lids, and spray pumps to containers before recycling.
  • Recycle plastic bags and film at most large retail outlets or grocery stores.
  • Recycle plastic grocery bags and other plastic bags, such as bread bags and produce bags, at larger redemption areas or stores that provide containers for plastic bag recycling.
  • Recycle plastic liners from paper boxes, such as cereal, cracker, and tissue boxes, at grocery stores with other plastic bags.
  • Mix all recyclable materials, including paper, metal, glass, and plastic, in the provided wheeled container.
  • Place recyclables at the curb by 6:30 am on collection day, which is every other week.

Plastic Recycling Don'ts:

  • Do not recycle plastic bags, foam egg cartons, single-use plastics (such as coffee pods, straws, utensils, cups), or prescription bottles in your curbside recycling bin.
  • Do not put plastic bags or recyclables in a bag in your recycling container; keep them loose and unbagged.
  • Do not recycle foam, such as Styrofoam, meat trays, coffee cups, takeout containers, or other small post-consumer items; these should be placed in the trash.
  • Do not recycle electronic waste (e-waste) through the curbside garbage pickup programs, as it is illegal for business and institutional waste generators.

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Drop-off locations

There are several drop-off locations for recycling plastics in the Rochester area. The official website for the City of Rochester, New York, provides information on recycling, including a link to Monroe County's "Recyclopedia", which offers a detailed guide on acceptable items for recycling and alternatives for disposing of unacceptable items. The website also provides contact information for further queries.

Monroe County, New York, has an ecopark that accepts plastic bags and product wrap for recycling. Plastic bags and product wrap are not accepted for curbside recycling but can be returned to major retail stores such as Walmart, Target, Wegmans, and Tops for recycling. Many other types of plastic bags and wraps can also be recycled. The ecopark facility also accepts lithium batteries and other hazardous household waste.

The Rochester, New Hampshire, website provides information on trash, recycling, and waste services for residents. It mentions that Waste Management provides recycling toter/carts with yellow lids for recycled materials such as paper, cans, glass, and bottles. It is important to note that recycled materials should not be placed in plastic bags or plastic grocery bags as these are not recyclable as part of this program. However, clean plastic grocery bags can be returned to the store for recycling. The website also mentions a new overflow trash bag program.

The Rochester, New Hampshire, website also provides details on the Rochester Residential Drop-off at Waste Management on Rochester Neck Road. The hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 am to 3 pm, and Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm. During these hours, residents can bring various items for recycling, including mattresses, furniture, appliances (excluding refrigerators and air conditioners), TVs, tires, light construction debris, and all recycling. For large or bulky items that cannot be brought to the drop-off centre, a pick-up service is available on the second full week of the month.

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Recycling programs

The City of Rochester's Residential Recycling program provides curbside collection of mixed recyclables, including paper, metal, glass, and plastic. Residents are provided with a 96-gallon wheeled container, which only needs to be set out for collection every other week, on the same day as refuse collection. Recyclables should be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on collection day.

The mainstay for residential recycling in the Rochester area is the Monroe County Residential Recycling "Blue Box" program. As of 2014, the county has gone to a Single Stream Recycling process, so there is no need to segregate materials within the recycling box. Materials that can be placed in the blue bins for this curbside recycling program include paper, metal, glass, and plastic. However, Monroe County does not accept plastic bags as they do not have the facilities to recycle them, and they can damage the equipment. Plastic bags and film should be brought to retailers for recycling, as required by New York law.

Under New York State's Returnable Container Act (Bottle Bill), returnable carbonated beverage bottles and cans can be redeemed at local retailers, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and redemption facilities. Cans and plastic bottles are typically fed through automated machines that read the barcode, reject any non-returnable containers, and issue a ticket for the total number of containers.

The Monroe County Recycling Center also provides a guide, "Recyclopedia," which offers in-depth answers to recycling questions and details on acceptable items.

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E-waste disposal

The City of Rochester, New York, offers a Residential Recycling program that provides curbside collection of mixed recyclables, including paper, metal, glass, and plastic. However, it is important to note that single-use plastics are not accepted as part of this program.

For electronic waste (e-waste), the City of Rochester provides specific guidelines and services. E-waste includes unwanted cell phones, TVs, laptops, desktops, computer accessories, monitors, printers, scanners, DVDs, CD players, radios, video game consoles, and other devices with circuit boards or cords.

E-waste from Suburban Disposal residential customers can be taken to Certified Document Destruction & Recycling Inc. at 1133 Emerson Street, Rochester, NY 14606. Accepted items include computers, TVs, monitors, keyboards, small office electronics, copiers, fax machines, cables, wires, servers, cell phones, and batteries. A charge may apply for this service, and residents can contact them via phone or email for more information.

Additionally, Monroe County, NY, offers residential curbside recycling services. They provide detailed guidelines on their website and through their Recyclopedia guide, which includes specific information on acceptable materials for mixed recycling. For example, plastic items such as bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs are accepted, while plastic bags, foam egg cartons, and small plastics are not.

It is important to note that electronics are generally not accepted curbside for recycling or disposal in Monroe County. However, the county's ecopark website provides information on alternative drop-off locations for items not accepted for curbside pick-up.

Frequently asked questions

You can recycle plastics by their shape: bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs. Plastic bags and film should be brought to retailers for recycling.

Paper, metal, and glass can be placed in your residential recycling bin.

The county runs a Household Hazardous Waste Program to collect and dispose of hazardous materials such as paints, solvents, and pesticides. There is also a Monroe County Electronics Recycling page with more information.

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