Remember! Recycling has changed in Lancaster County.
Just Remember the BIG 4
ONLY These Items Go In Your Recycling Bin:
This includes material consisting of a fluted corrugated sheet, like shipping and packing boxes. Flatten all boxes and remove packaging, including Styrofoam, peanuts, bubble wrap, and plastic liners. Do NOT put paperboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, shoe boxes), pizza boxes, newsprint, or junk mail in the recycling bin. Learn how to recycle cardboard!
This includes plastic bottles, jars, jugs and anything else with a neck. Throw away the lids and rinse out any residue. All other plastic material is considered trash. Ignore the numbers, as they don’t indicate if something is recyclable. Do NOT put plastic bags, toys, buckets, packaging, Styrofoam, hosing, furniture, or other plastic items in the bin. Learn how to recycle plastic!
This includes all food and beverage cans made from aluminum or steel. Throw away the lids and rinse out any residue. Do NOT put metal hangers, cooking pots and pans or other scrap metal like foil and pie plates in the bin. Learn how to recycle metal!
This includes clear, green and brown glass bottles and jars. Throw away the lids and rinse out any residue. Do NOT put light bulbs, dishes, glassware, window or automotive glass, vases or any other glass material in the bin. Learn how to recycle glass!
FLATTEN BOXES.
EMPTY, RINSE, AND REMOVE LIDS.
Some items are recyclable, but should not go in your curbside recycling bin.
Items such as newspapers, cereal boxes and plastic bags may be delivered to local drop-off locations. For a list of locations that accept a variety of other recyclable materials:
It’s okay to throw everything else away.
1 in 5 area homes are powered with trash.
Lancaster County has an advanced waste-to-energy process that converts these materials into renewable energy, powering local homes and businesses and helping to reduce our reliance on non-renewable sources of energy. So, when in doubt, throw it out.
Recycle Right Instructional Videos
Additional Recycling Resources
News & Media
Background on the Recycling Crisis
LCSWMA Blog Post
LCSWMA trims recycling program to the 'Big Four,' cites market collapse
Lancaster Online Article
Lancaster County residents struggling with recycling 'reset'
Lancaster Online Article
Documents & Downloads
Resident’s Guide
How to safely dispose of every material in your trash, from batteries to paint.
Recycle Right Flyer
Print and share with friends, family and coworkers.
China’s Changing Import Regulations—What Does It All Mean?
Waste 360 White Paper