The holiday season can bring an uptick in packaging, boxes, plastics and other recyclables.
That’s why it’s important to know what you can leave out at the curb — and what you can’t — and what materials need to be taken to a private recycling company.
The city of Erie accepts the following items at the curb:
Paper
Newspaper, office paper, magazines and other recyclable paper should be placed in a clear plastic bag or blue bin. Junk mail larger than 2-inches by 2-inches, including envelopes without plastic windows, are also accepted. Shredded paper should be placed in a separate clear bag.
Cardboard and paperboard
Flatten these items so they take up less space in the recycling trucks, according to the city. Also, remove any other packaging material, such as tape and plastic wrap. Boxes larger than 4 feet should be broken down to smaller pieces and placed next to other recyclables.
More than a million unused glass bottles are shown on 500 skids in a Pennsylvania warehouse. The glass was crushed and recycled for use as beverage bottles.
Bottles, jugs and jars
Plastic bottles, jugs and jars with a screw-top lid that are plastic types Nos. 1 and 2 are accepted. These include water bottles and laundry detergent containers. Bottle caps for these items and other types of plastics should be disposed of with the trash. The city’s recycling vendor only accepts Nos. 1 and 2 plastics. Plastic bags are among those types of plastics that are not being accepted because of their tendency to jam recycling machines. Instead, take those bags to a local grocery store with a recycling program.
Metal food and beverage containers
Steel or tin food containers or aluminum cans should be placed in a clear bag or blue bin.
What’s not recyclable at the curbside
Styrofoam, contaminated items with food or grease, plastic cups, tubs or toys and high-gloss paper should be placed in the trash.
Glass can be recycled at private companies such as Prism Glass Recycling, which has various recycling sites throughout Erie County, or Bayfront Glass LLC, 1310 East Ave.
For corrosives, flammables or toxic materials like furniture polish and antifreeze, contact the Environmental Coordination Services and Recycling at 814-425-7773 or attend the next Erie County Household Hazardous Waste Collection event, which are held throughout the year at various locations around the county. An event is not scheduled for December. The 2026 event calendar has yet to be released.
Large appliances, computers and electronic equipment also must be recycled elsewhere.
Visit eriecountypa.gov/recycling for more information.
Contact A.J. Rao at arao@gannett.com or 814-440-5080.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: What Erie residents can and cannot recycle at the curb