Recycling Do’s and Don’ts: Tips from Republic Services

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Recycling is a vital part of keeping our communities clean and our environment healthy—but not all recyclables are created equal.

Republic Services’ own Bill Brinkley and Jason Graves joined River City Live Tuesday to break down the most common recycling mistakes and offer clear, actionable advice for every household.

Recycling in Jacksonville: A Success Story

Before diving into the do’s and don’ts, it’s worth celebrating a local success.

According to Brinkley and Graves, the contamination rate (items placed in the wrong recycling bins) in Jacksonville has dropped from nearly 30% to below 24% in recent years. That means residents are making better recycling choices—but there’s still room to improve.

🚫 What Not to Recycle

1. Plastic Bags and Film - One of the biggest culprits? Plastic bags. These get tangled in recycling equipment and can shut down operations. While they’re not accepted through curbside pickup, many grocery stores offer collection bins for plastic bags and film.

2. Dirty Containers - Items like bottles and jars must be empty, clean, and dry. A good rule of thumb: less than a teaspoon of residue is okay. So, rinse out that peanut butter jar and let it dry before tossing it in the bin.

3. Lithium Batteries - Never place lithium batteries in your recycling bin—they are a serious fire hazard. Instead, take them to Jacksonville’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2675 Commonwealth Avenue for safe disposal.

✅ What You Can Recycle

1. Cardboard Boxes - Amazon and other delivery boxes are great for recycling—just remove any plastic stuffing or tape.

2. Hard Plastics - Milk jugs, water bottles, and other rigid plastic containers are welcome, as long as they’re clean. If you can poke your finger through the plastic, it’s likely too soft to recycle.

3. Aluminum and Tin Cans - These are excellent for recycling. No need to remove labels—just rinse and recycle.

4. Paper Products - From junk mail to office paper, most clean paper is recyclable. Newspapers may be fading out, but they’re still welcome in your bin.

🔄 Recycling Tips for Success

• Think “Clean, Empty, Dry” for all items.
• Keep plastic bags out of your curbside bin.
• Cap it off: Put plastic caps back on bottles after emptying them.
• Know your drop-off spots: Batteries and other hazardous items have special collection points.

🌍 Want to Learn More?

Dive deeper into best recycling practices at RecyclingSimplified.com, a helpful resource recommended by Republic Services.

By making smarter recycling choices, we can all contribute to a cleaner city and a greener planet.