PINELLAS COUNTY RECYCLING Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I recycle?
2. Can I recycle more than cans, bottles, and paper?
3. What is the A to Z Guide?
4. What is the recycling directory?
5. Why should I recycle?
6. Why isn't there just one recycling program?
7. What about business recycling?
8. Why can't I recycle more?
9. Why doesn't everybody have curbside recycling?
10. Have recycling programs in Pinellas County changed?
11. How much do we recycle?
12. How much could we recycle?
13. How do you know 76% of our trash could be recycled?
14. Where can I recycle glass?
15. Which plastic bottles can be recycled?
16. Can I recycle plastic bags?
17. Can I recycle plastic items other than bottles?
18. What is mixed paper recycling?
19. Can I recycle cereal boxes with mixed paper?
20. What is paperboard? Can I recycle it with cardboard?
21. Do I need to separate mixed paper and newspaper?
22. Can I recycle shredded paper?
23. Can I mix steel and aluminum cans?
24. Should I remove the caps on plastic bottles?
25. Do I have to rinse out cans and bottles?
26. Do I have to crush aluminum cans or plastic bottles?
27. Do I have to remove labels from jars or bottles?
28. Can I recycle aerosol cans with steel cans?
29. Should I still put my curbside bin out if it’s raining?
30. Do I have to flatten cardboard?
31. Why are pizza boxes not accepted with cardboard?
32. What is recycled mulch?
33. Can I recycle yard waste such as branches or leaves?
34. Can I recycle electronics such as TVs or computers?
35. Can I recycle used motor oil?
    
    

1. Where can I recycle?
It’s easy to get started! Click here for a list of local recycling programs.

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2. Can I recycle more than cans, bottles, and paper?
Yes. Find out how to recycle just about anything with our handy A to Z Guide.

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3. What is the A to Z Guide?
The A to Z Guide for Recycling & Disposal in Pinellas County is a wonderful recycling resource. The web guide provides environmentally friendly ways to “get rid of ” over 250 items. Each page has a link in the footer so you can provide feedback easily—we’d love to hear from you!

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4. What is the recycling directory?
Recycle Today for a Better Tomorrow is an annual publication. It provides an overview of Pinellas County’s integrated solid waste management system and focuses on information about recycling programs. You can view the guide online, or contact us to request a copy.

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5. Why should I recycle?
By recycling, you contribute to a sustainable future. Throwing away an item that can be recycled is a waste! Recycling creates new useful products, extends the life of our landfill and Waste-to-Energy facility, conserves resources, saves energy, reduces pollution, and helps preserve our environment for future generations.

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6. Why isn't there just one recycling program?
Each city provides its own program, which means there are 24 different recycling programs in Pinellas County, plus the program for unincorporated areas. To make it easy, we provide a printer-friendly one-page flyer for each city.

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7. What about business recycling?
For businesses, we offer:

• “Cutting Waste at Work”
• Hazardous waste disposal

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8. Why can't I recycle more?
Recycling is market driven, and not everything has a market. In addition, recyclers usually require large, consistent volumes of quality materials which limit municipal collection programs. However, you may be surprised at the variety of items you can recycle locally (visit our A to Z Guide).

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9. Why doesn't everybody have curbside recycling?
Each municipality determines whether or not to provide curbside service. Drop-off recycling centers are available to all citizens in Pinellas County, and Pinellas County Utilities is planning to provide countywide curbside recycling in 2010.

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10. Have recycling programs in Pinellas County changed?
Yes. Many cities changed their programs since last year. For example, Pinellas County Utilities drop-off centers now use just two bin categories: “paper” and “containers”. As programs change during the year, we update our Web site.

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11. How much do we recycle?
Approximately 30% of the two million tons of municipal solid waste generated in Pinellas County each year is being recycled.

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12. How much could we recycle?
Over 76% of our trash could be recycled. In other words, most items that are thrown away could have been recycled or reused.

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13. How do you know 76% of our trash could be recycled?
This data is based on the latest waste composition study. Workers spent days sifting through mounds of garbage, sorting it into 22 categories. The study showed that only 24% of our trash is not easily recycled (items such as soiled rags or used diapers).

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14. Where can I recycle glass?
There are some cities that accept glass for recycling, but many have discontinued the program due to economic considerations. Currently 15 cities collect glass: Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Belleair Shore, Dunedin, Largo, North Redington Beach, Pinellas Park, Redington Beach, Safety Harbor, Seminole, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, South Pasadena, Tarpon Springs, and Treasure Island.

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15. Which plastic bottles can be recycled?
In the past, you had to search for a code number #1 or #2. Now it’s easy; if it’s a plastic bottle, recycle it! If you’re not sure, “check for a neck”. You can recycle any container with a neck (an opening smaller than the base). For example, a plastic milk jug has a neck so you can recycle it, but a yogurt container has no neck so it cannot be recycled locally. You can recycle soda bottles, milk jugs, water bottles, syrup containers, shampoo bottles, ketchup bottles, and more!

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16. Can I recycle plastic bags?
Yes, but not in your curbside or drop-off bin. You can reuse bags, or drop them off for recycling at area grocery stores. Plastic bags are our #1 contaminant. Please help us to keep them out of recycling bins.

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17. Can I recycle plastic items other than bottles?
Yes. See our online A to Z Guide for ways to recycle other plastic items such as newspaper sleeves, egg cartons, produce trays, Styrofoam packing peanuts, grocery bags, and plant pots.

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18. What is mixed paper recycling?
Mixed paper is defined as “any clean, dry paper item that tears”. This includes white paper, colored paper, catalogs, magazines, junk mail, wrapping paper, phone books, folders, sticky notes, and paperboard items such as shoe boxes. You cannot recycle wax-coated paper such as milk cartons, or paper that does not tear easily such as metallic gift wrap.

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19. Can I recycle cereal boxes with mixed paper?
Yes. Mixed paper recycling includes paperboard items such as cereal boxes, paper towel tubes, and soda cartons.

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20. What is paperboard? Can I recycle it with cardboard?
Check the edge—paperboard items have one layer, while cardboard items have three layers (including a middle wavy layer). Examples of paperboard items are cracker boxes and toilet paper tubes. Some programs (such as the Pinellas County Utilities drop-off centers) accept paperboard and cardboard mixed together, but other programs require the items to be separated (such as the Largo curbside program requests that cardboard be placed under the bin).

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21. Do I need to separate mixed paper and newspaper?
Some programs (such as the Pinellas County Utilities drop-off centers) accept mixed paper and newspaper mixed together, but most programs require the items to be separated. The amount of sorting required depends on the program’s end user. For example, separated office paper can be recycled into high-grade copy paper. Office paper that is mixed with other kinds of paper would be made into a lower-grade product such as ceiling insulation.

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22. Can I recycle shredded paper?
Yes. You can recycle shredded paper, but it should be in a paper bag (please, no plastic bags) so it won’t cause litter.

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23. Can I mix steel and aluminum cans?
Some programs (such as the Pinellas County Utilities drop-off centers) accept steel and aluminum containers mixed together, but other programs accept only aluminum. The way to tell the difference is that aluminum cans are softer, lighter, and crushable. If you can’t tell by how a can feels, use a magnet. If the can sticks to the magnet, it’s steel; if not, it’s aluminum.

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24. Should I remove the caps on plastic bottles?
Yes, please remove the caps from plastic bottles before recycling. Removing the caps enables the bottles to be crushed more easily for better collection efficiency. Please be sure to empty your bottles completely before recycling them!

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25. Do I have to rinse out cans and bottles?
No, but we recommend that you rinse containers for sanitary reasons.

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26. Do I have to crush aluminum cans or plastic bottles?
No, but we encourage you to crush cans and bottles in order to save space.

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27. Do I have to remove labels from jars or bottles?
No, you do not need to remove labels from glass, plastic, or steel containers before recycling them. We ask that you remove lids (and discard them), but labels are okay since they may be easily removed in the recycling process.

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28. Can I recycle aerosol cans with steel cans?
No. Unfortunately none of our municipal steel can recycling programs accept aerosol cans. You can safely dispose of empty aerosol cans in the trash. If the can is not empty, it is considered hazardous waste, and should be taken to a mobile collection or our HEC3 facility.

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29. Should I still put my curbside bin out if it’s raining?
If possible, please wait until the next pickup, or put out only non-paper items such as bottles and cans. Wet paper products are not recyclable.

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30. Do I have to flatten cardboard?
Yes, please flatten cardboard to save space in the recycling bin.

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31. Why are pizza boxes not accepted with cardboard?
Pizza boxes are not recyclable because the grease from pizza contaminates cardboard. Soiled and wet paper products are not recyclable.

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32. What is recycled mulch?
Yard waste (such as branches or leaves) is processed into recycled mulch, and offered to the public at over 20 convenient sites. The mulch is clean and sterile. There is no limit to the amount of mulch a resident can take for free. Click here for more information on free mulch.

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33. Can I recycle yard waste such as branches or leaves?
Click here to find out if your city offers yard waste recycling. Even if your city does not have a yard waste program, there are ways you can recycle it, such as using leaves for mulch, leaving grass clippings on the lawn, or creating compost.

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34. Can I recycle electronics such as TVs or computers?
Yes. There are many convenient ways you can recycle electronics for free. Visit our A to Z Guide to find out more.

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35. Can I recycle used motor oil?
Yes. Pinellas County Utilities has partnered with over 60 automotive stores to offer free recycling for used motor oil.

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Utilities billing address
PO Box 1780
Clearwater Fl 33757-1780