Recycling Guide
Single Stream Recycling: The Connecticut Recourse Recovery Authority , CRRA, has been operating a single stream recycling processing facility since January 1, 2009. West Hartford residents can now participate with single stream recycling collection. The list of acceptable recycling items has not changed . All recycling items currently collected can be placed into your blue curb side bin without having to separate them or bag them by like items. However, if you wish to continue to separate by like items and bag your paper you may continue to do so without any impact on your recycling collection.
Single stream recycling has been mistakenly advertised, by some media sources, as only being available in automated recycling barrels similar to the automated refuse barrel. The same media sources announced, last fall that CRRA communities would be receiving automated recycling barrels to participate in single stream recycling. This is not true. Many communities, including West Hartford, are utilizing single stream collection with their blue curbside bins. Each community that wishes to use automated barrels for recycling is responsible for the purchase of those barrels along with negotiating any change in the collection method with their contractor. In West Hartford’s case, the purchase of automated recycling barrels would cost the town over $1 million. The other misconception regarding single stream recycling is that all recycling and refuse material is collected in the same barrel and separation is done at the CRRA facility. This is not true.
Weekly Curbside Recycling Collection: The following items are collected at curbside each week. Place items in your blue recycling bin and put at the curb by 6:00 AM on your refuse collection day.
Recycling Bins: Bins may be obtained from the Customer Service Desk in the Town Hall lobby or at Public Works at a cost of $8.00. With the increase of the number of items that are recycled at curbside, the larger 18-gallon bin comes in handy.
The items listed below are dictated by the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority:
Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, Junk Mail, Corrugated Cardboard, Glass, Metal, Plastic Containers, Gabled Milk & Juice Cartons: Please click here for a listing of items that are recyclable and placed in your blue bin.
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. Place in or on the side of the blue recycling bin.
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. Click here to learn how to recycling your old phone book.
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 bin.
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 (no larger than 3 feet x 3 feet) and tied with string only for curbside collection.
Other Recycling Opportunities>
