Recycling in Delaware County
Environmental health is very important in Delaware County, and there are a variety of events and initiatives the county offers to promote recycling, including recycling programs, education in schools, supporting sustainable practices, and more.
Depending on where you live, you may be required to prepare your recycling a certain way. For example, some municipalities allow Single Stream Recycling, where you are allowed to place all items into one container. Others require Co-Mingled Recycling, where bottles and cans must be placed into one bin, and paper and cardboard must be placed separately. Some may require all items to be separated. Check with your town or city to determine how you must prepare for recycling.
What Items are allowed to be recycled?
According to Delaware County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Website, the following items can be recycled and collected curbside:
Plastics #1 & #2 (PET #1 & #2 and HPDE #1 and #2)
A good rule of thumb is to look for bottles with necks that are smaller than the bottom. Throw away anything else with your trash.
Paper (Scrap paper, Magazines, Newspaper, Catalogs & Junk Mail)
Aluminum & Bimetallic Cans
Glass Containers (Clear, Brown, and Green)
Cardboard Boxes
Plastic and glass containers should be rinsed, and lids/caps should be removed. You may leave labels on. Your municipality may require glass to be separated by color. 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.
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 Delaware County’s website, these are some items are 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 Delaware County’s Solid Waste and Recycling page.
Hazardous Waste Disposal in Delaware County
In Delaware County, you may dispose of hazardous waste through the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program, which the county holds four times a year. You may also take your items to any HHW events held by Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, and Montgomery counties as well. This program disposed of more than 2 million pounds from the environment last year alone! For more information on HHW events, as well as dates and locations, visit Delaware County’s website.
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