As Curbside Recycling Returns, A Reminder Of What You Can Recycle

Curbside recycling is returning to El Paso and we're excited for the return of blue bins to the streets. It's also a good time to go over what can be recycled. We informed you in November that curbside recycling was suspended in El Paso due to staffing shortages and there was no date as to when it would return to the Sun City. Now after an overwhelming response from residents, the City of El Paso has announced the return of curbside recycling this week. While many are ecstatic to hear curbside recycling is back, this might be a good time to have a refresher on what items can be recycled and which ones you cannot. According to the City of El Paso Environmental Services website, the first rule is DO NOT BAG ITEMS. Also, make sure anything that contained food or liquids have been rinsed before placing them in the blue recycling bin.

There are four major categories of items that can be recycled- paper, plastic, cardboard, and aluminum/tin. Here are acceptable items for each category:

Paper
- Newspaper, junkmail, envelopes, and mail advertisements
- All office paper, colored or white paper, and construction paper
- Paperback and Hardback books (all soft, hard covers should be ripped off)
- Magazines, catalogs, and phone books
- Paper wrapping paper (cannot contain foil or glitter)
- Paper bags (place 5-6 bags in each bag)
- Unused paper cups and plates
- Heavyweight folders
- Holiday cards, birthday cards, and postcards
Plastic
- Yogurt, dairy, and margarine tubs and lids
- Milk, juice, soda, and other beverage bottles and their caps
- Shampoo and conditioner bottles
- Window, bathroom, kitchen cleaning bottles, detergent and fabric softener bottles
- Empty prescription or over the counter medicine vials and caps
- Stadium cups
- Durable reusable containers and lids (Tupperware-type materials)
- Rigid plastics (laundry baskets, lawn furniture, buckets, and toys)
- Food jars and squeezable bottles (mayonnaise, mustard, , salad dressing, syrup, etc.)
Cardboard
- Cereal and dry food boxes (without the liner)
- Cardboard egg cartons, flattened cardboard boxes
- Tissue boxes, paper towel or toilet paper rolls
- Toothpaste box, Shoe boxes
- Gift boxes (free of wrapping paper, ribbon, or tape)
- Cracker boxes
Aluminum/Tin
- Soda and other aluminum cans
- Canned food cans and their caps or lids
- Clothes hangers (bundled)
- Pots or pans (without wood, plastic, or rubber attachments