Standardized Terms for Materials Accepted by Municipal Recycling Programs
This table lists a standardized set of terms with examples of materials that may be accepted by municipal recycling* programs in their curbside pick-up and drop-off programs. EPA’s standard scope of municipal solid waste (MSW) materials includes electronics, glass, metals, organics (food and yard trimmings), paper, plastics, textiles, tires, wood, and others. EPA developed and refined these definitions and examples based on feedback from public comments. Residents and communities should ensure that products are clean, so they are easier to process at the recycling facility, and more likely to be recycled.
| Material Category ** | Examples of Products and Materials | Common Methods of Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries | Rechargeable batteries (e.g., lithium-ion, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride) and primary batteries (e.g., alkaline, lithium, silver oxide) from small consumer electronics, large vehicles, personal electric mobility devices (e.g., scooters and e-bikes), and other battery-operated household devices. Some types of batteries may be collected through household hazardous waste processes | Transfer stations, collection bins at retail, community collection events |
| Electronics | Computers and peripherals, drones, mobile devices, televisions, and wearable electronics | Transfer stations, collection bins at retail, community collection events |
| Glass | Containers and packaging, glass found in appliances, consumer electronics and furniture | Curbside collection, transfer stations, drop-off locations |
| Household Hazardous Waste | Corrosives, flammables, fluorescent tubes, pesticides, solvents, paint, oil filters, other materials or products containing volatile chemicals when discarded by residents | Transfer stations, drop-off locations, community collection events |
| Metals | Aluminum and tin/steel and cans, ferrous and nonferrous metals from appliances (e.g., refrigerators), metals recovered for recycling from incinerator bottom ash, consumer electronics and furniture | Curbside collection, transfer stations |
| Organics – Food | Any substance—whether processed, semi-processed, or raw—that is intended for human consumption. “Food” includes drink, and any substance that has been used in the manufacture, preparation, or treatment of food, and includes inedible parts (e.g., eggshells and bones), as well as fats, cooking oils and grease | Curbside collection for composting, composting drop-off sites |
| Organics – Yard Trimmings | Brush and branches, grass, leaves, tree trimmings | Curbside collection for composting, composting drop-off sites, transfer station |
Paper – Fiber and Paperboard | Paperboard packaging, corrugated containers (cardboard boxes), direct mail, magazines and catalogs, newspapers and inserts, office papers, paper products (books, paper towels, tissues, paper plates and paper cups), plastic- or aluminum-lined containers and cartons | Curbside collection, compost (food-soiled paper and cardboard), mailed recycling (plastic- or aluminum-lined containers and cartons) |
| Plastic | Bottles and containers; durable plastics found in appliances, furniture and sporting and recreational equipment; rigid, flexible and expanded foam packaging | Curbside, transfer station |
| Plastic Film | Plastic bags and wraps | Collection bins at retail/grocery |
| Textiles | Apparel, fiber from apparel, carpets and rugs, footwear, furniture, and linens (sheets and towels) | Transfer stations, collection bins at retail |
| Tires | Tires from automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, light-duty trucks, commercial trucks and buses | Transfer stations |
| Wood | Barrels, crates, pallets, small quantities of lumber and engineered wood from residential, commercial and institutional sources, and wood furniture | Transfer stations |
| Other | Mattresses | Transfer stations |
Notes:
*The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act language describes this type of recycling as “residential recycling.” EPA is choosing to use the term “municipal recycling” to include curbside residential recycling, commercial recycling, drop-off programs, and other MSW streams (such as multifamily homes).
**Check with your local recycling or composting program to confirm materials are accepted by the community curbside and drop-off programs.