Residential Recycling

Recycling in Monroe County—The “Blue Box” Program

The following containers, paper materials and license plates (defaced) should be placed in your recycling box and taken to the curb before 6:30 a.m. on your regular trash collection day. Click here to download a recycling guide.

Containers

Only the containers listed below are accepted for recycling. All containers should be rinsed and placed loosely on the top of paper items in your recycling bin. Please do not separate the types of containers using plastic grocery bags—they should all be mixed together. Labels are accepted.

Metal Food and Beverage Cans: lids are accepted.
EMPTY Aerosol Cans: remove and throw away caps. NO pesticides or spray paints.
Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars (1 and 2 ONLY): remove and throw away caps, spray pumps and lids. No motor oil containers.
Glass Bottles and Jars: Clear, Green and Brown ONLY—remove and throw away all lids and caps. No drinking glasses, window glass, etc.
Gable Top (Milk and Juice) Cartons and Drink Boxes: remove and throw away plastic straws.

Paper Materials: The Paper Caper Expands

The “Paper Caper” began in 1995 as a pilot program to increase paper recycling options for 30,000 Monroe County households. The program has now been expanded to all county households. Place paper materials in the bottom of your recycling box. Paper items may be kept together by using a brown paper bag (except for holding shredded paper, do not use plastic bags). Almost any kind of clean paper product can be placed in the recycling bin (NO soiled papers, paper toweling or wet paper).

Some examples:

Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, etc.
Corrugated Cardboard: flattened, 2x4 feet maximum—if you have a large stack of flattened boxes, it should be tied together with string or twine.
Phone Directories
Paper Boxes—cereal, cracker, soda, tissue, shoe, gift, toy, etc.: discard plastic liners and flatten.
Pizza Boxes: discard all contents and flatten.
Junk Mail, Advertisements and Brochures
Home Office Paper, Files, School Papers, etc.: shredded paper in clear plastic bags only.
All Envelopes: window envelopes too!
Paperback and Hardcover Books
Gift Wrap
and More!

Caution!

To Prevent Identity Theft: Tear or shred your bills and financial statements before recycling.

Reduce Junk Mail

Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by calling the following toll-free number: 1-888-567-8688.

New or Replacement Recycling Bins

In order to obtain a new or replacement recycling bin, homeowners must call their garbage collector. City of Rochester residents should call 585 428-5990.