Recycling

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Guide to Recycling

Recycling is Mandatory: The residential collection program uses two bins a covered green bin for paper items and a blue bin for plastic, metal and glass containers. For a brochure on what to recycle and how to separate recyclables for collection, please call the Clean City Program at (401) 845-5613. Additional information on recycling in Rhode Island is available on the Rhode Island Resource Recovery website www.rirrc.org

Recycling Bins are available in the Newport Tax Collections Office, located on the first floor of City Hall at 43 Broadway. Effective August 27, 2008, there is an $8 charge for each bin or $15 for a pair of green and blue bins. Residents must show identification or a utility bill with a Newport address on it in order to purchase a bin.

It is the responsibility of property owners to provide recycling bins and trash cans with tightly fitting covers to all dwelling units is a dwelling containing more than four dwelling units. In all dwelling units containing four units or less, it is the responsibility of the occupant to purchase recycling bins and trash cans with tightly fitting covers.

Cardboard Boxes are included in the mandatory recycling program. Boxes need to be emptied, flattened and cannot measure more than three feet in any one direction in order to be collected. Pizza boxes are not accepted through the recycling program. Please dispose of pizza boxes through the refuse collection program. A drop-off is available for flattened residential cardboard at the Public Works yard, located at 70 Halsey Street.

Small Metal Items, small enough to fit in your blue bin, should be recycled through the curbside recycling program. Pots and pans, wire hangers, used clothes irons and metal toasters are a few examples of small metal items that should go in your blue bin.

How to Recycle- Blue Bin

TIN/ALUMINUM, SCRAP METAL

How to: Rinse cans. No need to remove labels. A thin skin of dry latex paint in can or on lid is okay.

Examples: Aluminum & tin cans, foil & pie plates, empty steel areosol cans, empty latex paint cans, scrap metal, toasters & irons, wire hangers

Exceptions: No scrap metal longer than 3 ft. or heavier than 35 lbs.; No aluminum aerosol cans; No oil-based paint cans;No hypodermic needles

GLASS BOTTLES & JARS

How to: Rinse. Remove caps and lids. Okay to recycle metal lids. No need to remove paper or plastic labels.

Examples: Mayonnaise jars, wine bottles, beer bottles, applesauce jars, spaghetti sauce jars, salsa jars, vinegar bottles, baby food jars

Exceptions: No broken glass; No cups, dishes, glass windows, plates, Pyrex, ceramics, mirrors, lightbulbs, crystal

PLASTIC BOTTLES (Type 1)

How to: Rinse. Remove and throw away plastic caps and lids. No need to remove paper or plastic labels.

Examples: All plastic bottles & jugs with the Type 1 symbol on the bottom, soda & juice bottles, salad dressing bottles, shampoo bottles, window cleaner bottles

Exceptions: No plastic shopping bags, no plastic food wrap, no potato chip & sandwich bags, no Styrofoam, no plastics with Type 3 through Type 7 symbols or plastics with no number symbol, no plastic tubs (yogurt, margarine, ice cream), no automotive fluid bottles (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid)

PLASTIC BOTTLES & JUGS (Type 2):

How to: Rinse. Remove and throw away plastic caps and lids.

Examples: Colored & uncolored bottles with the Type 2 symbol on the bottom, milk jugs, detergent bottles, juice bottles, saline solution bottles, fabric softener & bleach bottles

Exceptions: No plastic shopping bags, no plastic food wrap, no potato chip & sandwich bags, no Styrofoam, no plastics with Type 3 through Type 7 symbols or plastics with no number symbol, no plastic tubs (yogurt, margarine, ice cream), no automotive fluid bottles (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid)

MILK CARTONS, DRINK BOXES

How to: Rinse. Throw away straws.

Examples: Drink Cartons, milk & juice cartons, juice boxes, flavored milk boxes, cream & creamer containers

Exceptions: No refrigerated or frozen food & vegetable boxes, no ice cream boxes, no TV dinners, no margarine boxes, no cream cheese boxes

How to Recycle- Green Bin

MIXED PAPER

How to: Place in green bin. All mixed paper and thin cardboard can be mixed together. Use paper bags for excess materials.

Examples: Mail, envelopes, any color (metal clasp is ok), magazines, catalogs, phonebooks, writing/ledger paper, paperbacks, paper bags (any color), greeting cards, wrapping paper, shredded paper, fax paper, computer paper, sugar & flour bags, calendars, tissue paper, coupons, bill inserts

Exceptions: No paper towels, tissues, napkins; No cigarette packs; No candy wrappers; No waxed or plastic-coated paper; No foil wrapping paper

NEWSPAPERS

How to: Bundle into brown paper bags or tie with string.

Examples: All newspapers, ads and inserts

Exceptions: DO NOT put in a plastic bag

CARDBOARD

How to: FLATTEN and tie with string. Bundles must be less than 3 ft. long or wide.

Examples: Boxes & other corrugated cardboard (smooth on the outside, wavy in the middle)

Exceptions: No cardboard larger than 3 ft., no dirty or greasy cardboard, no pizza boxes

THIN CARDBOARD

How to: Place in green bin with mixed paper, but throw away package plastic or wax liners.

Examples: All thin cardboard, shoe boxes, cereal boxes, pasta boxes (window ok), toilet paper rolls, gift boxes, cake mix boxes, toothpaste boxes, tissue boxes, paper egg cartons, file folders, light bulb packages

Exceptions: No takeout or frozen food boxes; No soda or beer packaging; No soap or laundry detergent boxes; No boxes with silver or foil coatings; Nothing dirty, greasy or plastic-coated