Recycling in Adams County
Adams County has a focus on environmental health and recycling, as demonstrated through the events and initiatives the county offers to encourage recycling.
How your recycling is sorted and disposed of is dependent on where you live. Some townships and boroughs allow single-stream recycling, where all recyclable items can be placed in one bin. Others require co-mingled recycling, where bottles and cans are placed into one bin and paper and cardboard into another. Check your township or borough's website for your exact specifications.
What Items Are Recyclable?
According to Adams County's website, the following items can be recycled and collected curbside:
Plastic and glass containers should be rinsed, and lids/caps should be removed but you can leave the labels on. The paper must be kept clean and dry, and you do not need to remove cellophane windows. Depending on your town or city, you may need to stack them and tie with twine or place them in paper bags, but others may allow you to mix them with other recyclable items. Your municipality may require glass to be separated by color.
These items cannot be collected curbside but can be recycled at nearby stores:
Plastic Shopping Bags
Plastic Pots
Batteries (Lithium, Button, NiCad, & Rechargeable Batteries)
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)
Recycling kiosks are also available at many department stores such as Best Buy. They may accept items such as CDs/DVDs, ink and toner cartridges, cables & connectors, rechargeable/Ni-Cad batteries, used gift cards, and more.
What Items Cannot be Recycled?
According to Adams County's website, these are some items not allowed to be recycled:
Paper coated in wax or plastic
Cardboard Boxes coated in wax (ex: Produce Boxes)
Plate Glass, Ceramics, Pottery, Milk White Glass
Mirrors, Light Bulbs, Fluorescent Bulbs, Crystal
Aluminum trays, ice cube trays, pie tins
Storm doors, windows, and gutters, lawn furniture
For more information about recycling and a full list of what can and cannot be recycled, visit Adams County's Solid Waste and Recycling page.
How to Dispose of Hazardous Waste Disposal in Adams County
In Adams County, you may dispose of hazardous waste through the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program, which has designated sites throughout Adams County and the surrounding counties to receive and properly dispose of hazardous waste. Find more information on designated sites from the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
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