Recycling the right way

This summer, the Solid Waste Management Department is challenging San Antonio residents to learn the do's and don'ts of recycling.

Recycling is the key to managing your solid waste. The more recyclable items you place in the blue cart the more space you will have in the brown. Recycling within our city has become easy, now we want to encourage you to help us out and join our fight to improve the environment for the next generation of San Antonians.

Did you know that when the wrong item is tossed in the bin, it can ruin an entire batch of valuable recyclables. Something as simple as a greasy pizza box or a wet paper towel can ruin an entire load of recycling.

Remember the following Do's and Don'ts when recycling at home:

Do Recycle:

• Paper: Advertising circulars, junk mail, newspapers
  magazines, catalogs and phone books

• Cardboard: Cereal boxes with the liner removed, dry goods packaging, broken down boxes, paper towel/toilet paper cores

• Office supplies: File folders, carbonless paper, sticky notes, printer paper and calendars

• Metals: Aluminum drink cans, steel or cans with lids, empty aerosol cans

• Glass: Bottles and jars

• Plastic: Items with a recyclable index of 1-7

Don't Recycle:

• Brush

• Bagged leaves

• Household Hazardous Waste

• Batteries

• Paper towels

• Facial tissue and toilet paper

• Plastic packaging

• Plastic bags

• Packing peanuts

• Wax-coated paper drink containers

• Food and wet waste

• Water hoses

• Coat Hangers

Following these tips will help to ensure that our curbside recycling program runs efficiently. It will also help to save valuable recyclables from ending up in our landfills. So, take the challenge make sure you and your family learn the do's and don'ts of recycling this summer.

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