Which items can be recycled curbside?

The same material is collected in round pails with handles, 18 gallon containers, or large single stream recycling containers.

Acceptable items include: metal and plastic food and beverage containers. paper cartons (milk or juice boxes, plastics #1 through #7. Newspaper, magazines, catalogs, office paper, boxboard (shoe and cereal boxes), and folded or flattened cardboard (maximum 2' by 3') also are collected curbside.

Can I recycle junk mail? What about catalogs and phone books?

TROC communities also accept junk mail, as well as newspaper, magazines, and catalogs. Options for recycling residential mixed paper, include junk mail, writing paper, white-only construction paper, soft cover books, telephone directories, brown paper grocery bags, brown envelopes, and packing paper.

Residential mixed paper does not include:

• wax or plastic inserts from cookie or cereal type boxes

• frozen food boxes

• painted or crayoned paper

• overnight envelopes

• hardcover books

• scratch-off lottery tickets

• colored file folders

• foil-lined paper

What should I place at the curb for trash pick up?

Food waste, non-recyclable paper and plastic packaging, small metal items, small appliances (toasters, clocks and clock radios), and clothing are typical examples. Maximum container size is generally 32-gallon, unless your trash collector has automated equipment for handling larger containers.

DO NOT PLACE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN TRASH

Medical waste

Hazardous chemicals ... more

Electronics ... more

Leaves or grass clippings - State Law requires recycling

Tree limbs or stumps - some towns pick up Christmas trees, check with your local Public Works.department

Hazardous materials - dispose at HHW Collections

Auto/marine batteries - check with your local Public Works.department

Automotive fluids (oil and antifreeze) - check with your local Public Works.department

Propane/pressurized gas cylinders       Check with Public Works

Refrigerators, washers/dryers, air conditioners, and other appliances are recyclable - check with your local Public Works Department

Rechargeable batteries - many local hardware or electronics stores accept rechargeable batteries for recycling, and many Town halls have containers for rechargeable batteries (or dispose of at HHW Collections)

INFORMATION BELOW WAS OBTAINED FROM THE CONNECTICUT DEP WEB SITE

How do I dispose of prescription medicines and Over-the-Counter (OTC) products?

Do not flush prescription medicines or OTC products down the sink or toilet!

Although using the toilet or sink prevents someone from accidentally taking the medications, disposing of them in this way causes water pollution and has adverse effects on septic systems, sewage treatment plants, fish and other aquatic wildlife. Trace amounts of all kinds of drugs have also been found in some drinking water supplies because they pass through septic systems and sewage plants untreated.

The best way to dispose of prescription medicines and OTC products is to put them in the trash. In CT, most of our trash is burned at Resource Recovery Facilities at very high temperatures that destroy these products.

By following the instructions in the downloadable PDF listed below, you will protect your privacy, discourage unintended consumption of the drugs and protect our water. (Remember to follow these instructions for any pet medications you have, too.)

More Pollution Prevention Tips For Reducing The Need for Medicine and OTC Disposal

If possible, ask your doctor to give you a smaller amount of a prescription or a sample of a drug that you are taking for the first time to see if it works for you. This may save you money and will also eliminate the need for throwing the drug away if it doesn’t work for you. Do the same for animal prescriptions

Look at the expiration date on over-the-counter products. Will you be able to use all of it before the product expires? If not, maybe a smaller amount will do

Look into mail-back programs for sharps.  The Sustainable Hospitals website has a list of companies that provide sharps containers or check with your local hospital

Note: The DEP does not endorse any products. Contact vendors directly to purchase a product or to obtain more information.

Don't know what to do with an item??????  Check the DEP web site for an alphabetic listing by material......www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp