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Recycling contamination
A recyclable item can still be rejected if the local program does not take it or it is prepared incorrectly. Check the local list, empty accepted containers, and use separate routes for items the cart does not take.
12 min read
What do U.S. recycling figures measure?
EPA's national waste estimates group materials generated across the country, and its latest full material-by-material recycling rates shown here use 2018 data. Those figures do not show why a particular item was rejected or what your local service accepts. See EPA's data and definitions. To measure your own home or business instead, the waste diversion rate calculator shows what share of your waste you keep out of the landfill by recycling and composting.
Contamination is material the receiver cannot accept, sort, or process safely. A greasy pizza box is not automatically contamination in every program, and a plastic film item accepted in one city may be excluded in another. Check the local list before setting out the cart; EPA's common-recyclables guide is a starting point for U.S. households.
What counts as recycling contamination?
The exact risk depends on what your collection service and receiving facility accept.
Food, liquid, and grease
Residue that soaks paper or leaves oil on containers.
- Food scraps left in packaging; grease rules vary for pizza boxes and paper
- Bottles with liquid left in them
- Accepted containers with food residue left inside
- Oil-stained cardboard
- Wet or moldy paper
Items that do not belong
Common in the cart, rejected on the line.
- Plastic bags and films where the local cart does not accept them
- Electronics and batteries
- Paint, chemicals, and other hazardous waste
- Textiles and clothing
- Items the local list does not accept, including some mixed-material packaging
Wrong-stream mixing
Recyclable items that still mess up another grade.
- Glass mixed into paper
- Items placed in the wrong stream under the local instructions
- Metal caps left on glass (if the program wants them off)
- Food scraps in the recycling cart
What a dirty load does at the plant
Some contaminants can tangle machinery or create worker-safety risks, but one item does not automatically spoil an entire load. A Waste Management local recycling guide explains that plastic bags can wrap the sorting system and require a shutdown to clear. In a Milwaukee recycling webinar with the City's Department of Public Works, the speakers explain that recyclables are easier for equipment to sort in their original shape and size. Those are process examples, not a universal accepted-items list; follow your local provider.
CLEAN: a five-step check before recycling
Check the local list, loosen attachments only as instructed, empty, assess cleanliness, and keep accepted items loose and recognizable.
C
Check: is it accepted here?
Match the item to your local program list. RecycleFind lists recycling centers; municipal carts still follow the city or hauler list. If you cannot confirm it, leave it out.
Before it goes in
- Search the local waste lookup by item name or format
- Use the resin number as a clue, not an acceptance promise
- Confirm the specific stream and preparation directions
Leave these out
- Items missing from the accepted-items list
- Items with a separate hazardous-waste or take-back route
- Electronics and batteries
- Film and bags unless the local list accepts them
L
Loose: pull off other materials
Remove or separate parts only when the receiving program says to; preparation differs by material and locality.
Take these off
- Metal caps from glass containers if required by the local guide
- Pumps, triggers, and attached parts if required by the local guide
- Hazardous contents using the correct special-waste service
Leave these on
- Labels when the program does not ask you to remove them
- Plastic bottle caps when your program says to leave them attached
- Other attached parts that local instructions say to leave in place
E
Empty: no contents left
Residue attracts pests, smells, and spreads onto paper and other containers in the truck.
Emptying
- Scrape out visible contents
- Pour out liquids
- Shake so nothing rattles
Special cases
- Peanut butter: scrape; it does not need to be spotless
- Yogurt: rinse if residue is stuck
- Aerosol containers: check local preparation and hazardous-waste instructions
- Paint cans: dry paint is ordinary trash in many cities; wet paint is household hazardous waste. Confirm local rules.
A
Assess: peanut butter jar clean
EPA's “spatula-clean” guidance is a practical U.S. guide: remove food scraps, then rinse if residue remains or your local program asks.
No rinse needed
- Beverage bottles and cans
- Dry packaging
- Clean paper and cardboard
Quick rinse
- Food containers with residue
- Condiment jars and sauce bottles
- Dairy tubs
Stop and check
- Items missing from the local accepted-items list
- Hazardous or strong chemical residue
- Packaging that cannot be emptied safely
N
Not bagged: keep accepted items recognizable
There is no universal two-inch cutoff. Do not bag recyclables or break containers into small pieces unless your local provider instructs you to.
Common mistakes
- Putting loose film or a bag of mixed recyclables in the cart
- Breaking items that the program expects to sort whole
- Putting an item in the cart without checking its stream
Better practice
- Keep accepted containers loose; follow the local cap rule
- Keep paper dry and prepare shredded paper as instructed
- Use another route for film, small parts, or unaccepted items
What should you keep out of the recycling bin?
Use the local accepted-items list first. These common examples need a separate route in many programs, but rules can differ.
| Item | Why it is a problem | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic bags and films | Flexible film can tangle sorting equipment. Waste Management describes this risk in its local recycling guide. | Use a store or dedicated film drop-off only if it accepts that exact item. Ontario's 2026 program lists specified flexible packaging; check the local instructions. |
| Electronics and batteries | Batteries can start fires in waste and recycling equipment. Phones and small devices also contain materials that need dedicated handling. | Use an approved electronics or battery collection site; see EPA battery guidance. |
| Hazardous materials | Examples include paint, solvents, oil, and pressurized cylinders; never mix unknown chemicals. | Check your local household hazardous-waste service. EPA explains safe household disposal. |
| Textiles and clothing | Clothes, shoes, rope, and string are not accepted in many curbside carts. | Donate wearable items or use a textile collector that names the item; otherwise follow local disposal rules. |
| Food and organics | Food and yard waste belong in an organics stream only when the local program accepts them. | Use the municipal organics list; otherwise use the disposal route your provider specifies. Jack-o'-lanterns follow the same rule; see how to dispose of pumpkins after Halloween. |
| Medical waste | Needles and sharps can injure sorters. Medicines need a take-back or other approved route. | Follow local health-department instructions for sharps and medicines. |
| Mixed-material items | Some bonded packs are not accepted, while some cities explicitly accept selected cartons or lined cups. | Search by the complete item name; do not guess from one material layer. |
| Black plastic | Acceptance depends on the collection and sorting system; Ontario's 2026 list includes black plastic containers. | Check by item and community. Compare Ontario's current list with your own program. |
| Broken glass, windows, bulbs, mirrors | EPA says broken glass can injure workers; window glass, mirrors, dishes, and bulbs are not the same as bottle glass. | Follow local glass and bulb instructions; see EPA's glass guidance. |
| Polystyrene foam (#6) | Foam may be accepted in one program and excluded in another: Ontario lists some foam packaging; NYC excludes it. | Check the current local list before recycling or seeking a special drop-off. |
| Ceramics and pottery | Ceramics and pottery are not container glass. | Donate usable items; check local disposal instructions for broken pieces. |
| Shredded paper | Paper shredding and containment rules vary among programs. | Check the local paper guide; Ontario, for example, requests shredded paper in a tied clear bag. |
How clean does a container need to be?
Empty accepted containers and scrape food away. Rinse only if needed or as your local program directs.
Pizza boxes: follow your local rule
There is no single U.S. pizza-box rule. EPA says pizza boxes can be recycled even when greasy, once food scraps are removed. Ontario's 2026 list includes pizza boxes and says to flatten cardboard. Check your own provider's instructions before splitting a box or discarding a greasy section.
First check the local list
- Remove food scraps and liners
- Flatten if your provider requests it
- Use the current local instruction for grease
Do not assume these rules
- Do not assume grease always disqualifies a box
- Do not leave food scraps inside
- Do not compost coated packaging unless your organics program accepts it
Other food-contact paper
Paper plates and cups
Paper plates and cups vary by program; some providers accept lined cups. Remove leftover food and check locally.
Takeout containers
Separate parts only when your local guide asks; cartons and lined containers may have their own stream.
Napkins and towels
Used towels and napkins usually belong in organics only if the local program accepts them; otherwise use the listed disposal route.
Peanut butter jar standard
Three steps
- 1. Empty the container and scrape out food scraps
- 2. Rinse only if food residue remains or the local program requests it
- 3. Drain excess water before placing it in the cart
Done when
- No food scraps or pourable liquid
- A brief rinse removed loose residue
- Do not scrub a container to spotless
- Follow stricter local requirements if posted
Ten-second check before it goes in the cart
- 1
Material
Does the local program take this?
- 2
Empty
Are contents gone?
- 3
Clean
Peanut butter jar clean?
- 4
Format
Loose and recognizable?
- 5
Attachments
Remove parts only as instructed?
If a material or preparation rule is unclear, check the local waste lookup or ask the provider. Do not use this checklist as a substitute for the accepted-items list.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to contaminated recyclables?
A sorting facility may separate out items it cannot sell or safely process, but the outcome depends on the material and facility. The most useful home steps are to check local acceptance, empty containers, keep loose film out unless accepted, and follow special-waste instructions.
What is the pizza box rule for recycling?
Rules differ. EPA says to remove food scraps and recycle the pizza box even if it is greasy. Ontario's 2026 recycling list also names pizza boxes and says to flatten them. Check your current local provider instructions; do not assume every city uses the same grease rule.
How clean do containers need to be for recycling?
Empty and scrape out visible food. EPA says 'spatula-clean' is clean enough; rinse if residue remains or your local list asks you to. Whether caps or labels stay on depends on the material and program.
What items cause the most recycling contamination?
Common problems include items outside the local accepted list, plastic film in a program that excludes it, food left in containers, batteries or electronics in the cart, and items placed in the wrong stream. There is no universal two-inch rule for household recycling.
Why can't plastic bags go in regular recycling bins?
In much of the United States, EPA advises taking bags and film to a participating store or other drop-off instead of the household bin. Local rules can differ: Ontario's 2026 provider list includes specified flexible packaging. Confirm that your local collection or drop-off accepts the exact film.