If you want to meaningfully participate in Richardson’s recycling, it’s important to avoid being a “wish-cycler,” i.e. throwing something into the blue bag without being sure it can be recycled—just one wrong item can contaminate the whole bag, sending its entire contents to the trash.
Here are the most common recycling contaminants according to the recycling managers at Republic Services, Richardson’s recycler:
- Plastic bags- Return them to the store where you got them, reuse them or throw them in the trash
- Toys – Donate toys for reuse, or throw them in the trash
- Clothing – Donate to local nonprofits that operate clothing closet programs such as Network of Community Ministries, or look up textile recyclers online
- Furniture and Mattresses
- Disposable Diapers – Just because they’re made of plastic doesn’t mean they can be recycled!
- Soiled (grease-stained) Pizza Boxes – If the top half is oil/food-free, tear it off and recycle it; throw the rest away
- Foam Takeout Containers
- Yard Debris – belongs in the trash or composting bags
Website: click here
Website: Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) (for larger items and yard debris)
