Recycling

Single Stream Recycling:

Single-stream recycling is a process by which materials are collected in one container. No sorting is required by the resident. Recyclable containers should be rinsed clean, and cardboard should be flattened. Lids should be removed from plastic bottles. Single stream recyclables should be placed loose in your recycling Toter. Excess recyclables that don’t fit in your Toter must be placed in paper bags. Carboard boxes must be broken down to no more than 3’x3’ and bound with twine. To guarantee collection, place your Township-provided cart curbside the night before your scheduled collection day.

Unfortunately, one-quarter1 of single-stream recycling won’t actually be recycled because it is contaminated, hazardous, too large, will clog up the machines, or get tangled. Recycling facilities want useful, valuable commodities with enough material to be turned into something new. For the most part, anything smaller than a credit card is unusable.

So make sure your recycling gets recycled!

  • Rinse and empty all containers 
  • Throw away caps/lids of all plastic/glass bottles and jars
  • Do not place items in garbage bags -- they should be free-floating in the recycling toter

 Remember: Clean, Empty, Dry, Loose

 *These rules apply specifically to the township. Rules may be different in other locations!

  1. Acceptable Materials to Recycle
  2. Unacceptable Materials to Recycle
  • Aluminum beverage cans
  • Bi-metal (tin) cans
  • Bottles, cans, and jars
  • Corrugated cardboard boxes
  • Envelopes
  • Green, brown, and clear glass
  • Paperboard (cereal-type boxes)
  • Paper, newspapers, phone books, junk mail, and magazines
  • Plastic types 1-5 and 7 (label is found inside the triangle on the bottom of the container)

Just because it can’t be put in your recycling Toter doesn't mean it can’t be recycled elsewhere. Here is a list of FREE drop-off locations (PDF) for your other items, including electronics, light bulbs, ink cartridges, plastics, batteries, and more!

Why Recycle?

Recycling reduces climate change. In 2022, recycling removed the equivalent of more than 7.57 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the air.2 

Recycling reduces pollution caused by traditional manufacturing and diverts plastic away from the ocean. For example, recycling paper makes 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution than manufacturing new paper.3

Recycling conserves natural resources like metal and wood.4 It also uses less energy than manufacturing products from raw material, so we can extract less natural gas and fossil fuels.5 

Recycling can save you money. The township receives grants from the state based on annual tons recycled, which offsets disposal cost, and subsequently lowers resident trash fees. Disposing one ton of recyclables costs less than disposing one ton of municipal solid waste, also keeping resident fees low. 

For More Information:

For additional information about residential recycling, please view our "Recycle Right!" Guide to Recycling and Trash in UUT.

For information about recycling at work, please view our Recycling At Work flyer.

1. NPR "With 'Single-Stream' Recycling, Convenience Comes At A Cost” 2. Dept. of Environmental Protection “Statewide Recycling Data” 3. BBC “Is recycling paper bad for the environment?” 4/5. National Institutes of Health “Benefits of Recycling.”