Recycling

Requirements

Recycling must be placed inside the cart with the green lid to be collected.

Put your cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Carts must be removed from the curb within 24 hours after pick-up.

Recycling Pick-Up Days:

  • Recycling is picked up every other week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  • The city is divided into four areas for recycling pick-up.

View the Recycling Collection Calendar and Route Map to fine your pick-up day.

Do's and Don'ts for Recycling

  • Make sure your recyclables are clean and dry. One dirty item can ruin a whole truckload.
  • Do not bag your recyclables. Plastic bags jam the machines.
  • Take apart items made of different materials. Example: Remove paper inserts from plastic packages.
  • Only recycle items that are accepted curbside.

Visit Recycling Simplified for more tips on how to recycle properly.

Know What to Throw

Watch this quick video to learn what can and can't be recycled curbside.

Accepted Items

Plastics

  • #1: Water bottles, clear soda bottles, juice jugs
  • #2: Milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles
  • #5: Yogurt cups, sour cream containers, butter tubs

Metal

  • Vegetable and soup cans
  • Empty aerosol cans (hairspray, Lysol, room sprays)
  • Drink cans (soda, energy drinks, etc.)

Paper

  • Newspapers
  • Magazines and catalogs
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Flyers, letters, etc.
Know what to throw

Items You Cannot Recycle Curbside

  • Batteries
  • Glass bottles, jars, dishes or mirrors
  • Containers of motor oil, antifreeze, pool chemicals or hazardous waste
  • Styrofoam
  • Light bulbs
  • Electronics
  • Plastic grocery bags, dry-cleaning bags, or newspapers

But don’t throw them away — many places in Mt. Vernon will recycle these for you:

Walmart & Kroger: Plastic bag collection bins

Lowe’s: Plastic bags, CFL bulbs, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, planter pots

Battery Specialist: Car and Power Wheels batteries

AutoZone: Clean used motor oil, car batteries

Milano Metals & Recycling: Scrap metal, car and truck bodies, copper, aluminum, most kitchen appliances

CPR Cellphone Repair: Cell phones, laptops, tablets, game consoles

Contact Information

Republic Services Customer Service

Phone: 1-800-631-1156