Good

Bad

Notes

Unbroken glass containers
Clear is the most valuable. Lids can go with metal.

Tableware, ceramics, pyrex, windows, lightbulbs, mirrors. Broken glass is hard to sort.

Only bottle glass is acceptable. Ceramics contaminate glass. Glass is color sorted for recycling.

Clean dry newspapers &
newspaper inserts

Rubber bands, plastic bags, product samples, water, dirt, mold or other contamination.

Pack newspapers tightly in large brown grocery sacks or tie with natural twine. Keep dry.

Empty metal cans, caps, lids, bands and foil

Full cans, spray cans unless instructed, cans with paint or hazardous waste.

Metals can be recycled again and again.

Plastic stamped #1 or #2
on the bottom. Some areas only accept clear plastic or certain shapes.

Plastic types #3, #4, #5, #6 or especially #7. Caps are usually a different type from the bottle – toss if unmarked.

Even a small amount of the wrong type of plastic can ruin a melt. Much plastic collected for recycling is actually landfilled.

Plastic bags marked #2 or #4 Many grocery stores take bags.

Unmarked plastic bags. (Also see notes)

Reuse bags – recycling them can have a negative net impact.

Mixed paper: junk mail, magazines, photocopies, computer printouts, cereal/shoe boxes, etc. (some places also take corrugated cardboard and phone books)

Stickers, napkins, tissues, waxed paper, milk cartons, carbon paper, laminated paper (fast food wraps, some food bags, drink boxes, foil), neon paper, thermal fax paper. Any wet or food stained paper.

When in doubt, throw it out.

Paper fiber can be recycled about 7 times before it gets too small. Plastic window envelopes are ok.

Scrap aluminum such as lawn chairs, window frames and pots

Metal parts attracted to magnets. Non-metal parts.

Aluminum is not attracted to magnets.

There is no need to remove labels or bands from cans and bottles. Clean only enough to prevent odors. Do not recycle containers with traces of hazardous materials. Do not recycle dirty or food stained paper.

Arlington County operates two recycling drop-off centers that are available to residents 24/7.  The closest one to Laurel Mews is at  North Arlington at Quincy Park (N. Quincy Street and Washington Boulevard).  Those centers only accept specific materials, and must be put in the appropriate bins.

Arlington County offers Christmas tree recycling services for county residents.   Please call (703) 228-6570 to schedule an appointment Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Solid Waste Bureau is located at the Arlington Trades Center, 4300 29th St. S. Residents will need to show proof of residence in Arlington, such as a driver’s license. Trees may also be dropped off the first Saturday of each month 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Trades Center without an appointment.

Motor oil (never dump into storm drains).

It is ILLEGAL to dump hazardous materials on the ground or down storm sewers.  Each year do-it-yourselfers improperly dump more oil than the Exxon Valdez spilled.  Arlington County operates the Household Hazardous Materials (HHM) Facility and Electronics Collection and Recycling Center (ECRC) at the Water Pollution Control Plant.

Automotive batteries, sealed lead/gel-cell batteries

Regular household (alkaline and carbon-zinc) batteries should be disposed of in regular trash collection.  Rechargeable batteries, as well as lithium, silver-oxide, and mercury batteries, should be dropped off in special collection boxes located at most Arlington County Fire Stations or at the ERC.  Car batteries can be collected with curbside recycling by submitting a request by calling (703) 228-6570 or they can be dropped off at the HHM facility.

Rechargeable batteries (cordless phone, camcorder, shaver, portable appliance, computer, etc.)

Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable batteries contain toxins, please recycle.  Regular household (alkaline and carbon-zinc) batteries should be disposed of in regular trash collection.  Rechargeable batteries, as well as lithium, silver-oxide, and mercury batteries, should be dropped off in special collection boxes located at most Arlington County Fire Stations or at the ERC.  Car batteries can be collected with curbside recycling by submitting a request by calling (703) 228-6570 or they can be dropped off at the HHM facility.

Laser/Ink printer cartridges

Send to one of the many recyclers or refillers.

Household toxics (paints, oils, solvents, pesticides, cleaners)

These items are accepted by the ERC.   Do not dump into storm drains.

Computers, eyeglasses, household goods

Arlington County may be willing to pick the item up for disposal.  Alternatively there is eAsset Solutions just nearby that does e-waste disposal.  It located just on the other side of I-66 in Falls Church.