Rumpke gives recycling dos and don’ts after seeing surge in diapers

Recently, Rumpke has seen a noticeable increase in diapers at the Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center, resulting in substantial contamination and loss of items that are recyclable. As such, the company is reminding customers about what can and cannot be recycled.

Recycling don’ts

Anything not included in Rumpke’s acceptable items list would be a recycling “don’t,” including:

Textiles – clothing and bed sheets

Garden hoses, dog leashes and chains

Hangers

Holiday lights

Plastic bags

Batteries and electronics*

Styrofoam

Hazardous waste

Medical sharps or needles of any kind

When in doubt, check Rumpke’s acceptable items list at rumpke.com/residential/recycling-services/acceptable-items.

*When it comes to batteries, Rumpke asks that you skip the bin and turn batteries in by visiting batterysafetynow.org to find a battery take-back location near you.

Recycling dos

Acceptable items may vary slightly in some locations, but residents can typically recycle the following:

Glass bottles and jars (all colors)

Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, cups and clear clamshell containers

Paper and cardboard

Steel and aluminum cans

Cartons – food and beverage cartons like milk, juice and broth

Effective recycling is a community effort. From the customers who throw the correct items in their recycling bins to the end users who manufacture new products, we all play a crucial role in contributing to the successful circular process of recovering valuable materials for new use instead of throwing them away at the landfill.