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Recycling Guide

West Hartford residents participate in single stream recycling collection. All recycling items collected can be placed into your blue recycling barrel without having to separate them or bag them by like items. Recyclables will be collected every two weeks on the same day as your refuse collection day. The items listed below are dictated by the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority.

Click here for a LISTING OF RECYCLABLES:

Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, Junk Mail, Corrugated Cardboard, Glass, Metal, Plastic Containers, Gabled Milk & Juice Cartons:

Boxboard: All non-corrugated cardboard, commonly used in dry food and cereal boxes, shoe boxes and other similar packaging. Dry food and cereal boxes must have inside bag removed. Boxboard with wax, plastic or foiled coating or boxboard that has been contaminated by food are NOT acceptable. Examples of acceptable boxboard: Cereal, cracker, shoe boxes and shirt boxes, as well as beverage cartons and six-pack cartons. Please flatten boxes, remove the plastic cereal bag and place the boxes in a paper bag or tie them with string.

Junk Mail, Shredded Paper, Mixed Paper: Mixed office paper (any color) or junk mail may be recycled at the curb. Junk mail includes all loose or bagged bulk mail received through the mail consisting of paper or cardboard. Examples of junk mail include paper envelopes with windows, flyers, envelopes containing office paper, computer paper, coupons, brochures, magazines, catalogs, stationery and bills.

With many citizens rightfully concerned about identity theft, more and more households are shredding mail and other documents containing personal information. Clean shredded paper is now a recyclable item as well. Place shredded paper in a paper bag. Do not place it loosely in the recycling barrel.

Unacceptable paper includes any kind of non paper bag such as plastic or TYVEK, overnight delivery envelopes. Also plastic bags or wrapping, bubble wrap, books of any kind, greeting cards, gift wrap and product samples such as shavers, detergents and other such materials.

Corrugated cardboard boxes must be collapsed and placed in your recycling barrel for collection. Cardboard can not be placed on the ground outside your recycling barrel.