How to Recycle Right for the holidays

The holidays are full of fun—with festive gatherings, family traditions, and gift giving at the top of people’s to-do lists. And before you start unwrapping, the team at LCSWMA invites you to refresh yourself on how to Recycle Right, especially during the winter season.

The Big 4

These four categories of items are the only materials that should go in your curbside recycling bins. Some items are recyclable, including newspapers, cereal boxes, and plastic bags, but should be delivered to local drop-off locations around Lancaster County instead.

Corrugated Cardboard

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, wrapping paper, newsprint, or junk mail in the recycling bin.

Plastic Bottles & Jugs with Necks

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, ornaments, buckets, packaging, Styrofoam, hosing, furniture, or other plastic items in the bin.

Metal Food & Beverage Cans

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.

Glass Jars & Bottles

This includes clear, green, and brown glass bottles and jars. Throw away the lids and rinse out any residue. Do not put light bulbs, Christmas lights, dishes, glassware, window or automotive glass, vases, or any other glass material in the bin.

Waste-to-Energy

Fortunately, in Lancaster County, material placed in the trash does not go to a landfill. LCSWMA owns two waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities where trash is combusted and turned into renewable energy. In fact, waste-to-energy generates enough electricity to power 1 in 5 Lancaster County homes!

LCSWMA is recognized nationally for its leadership in the solid waste industry and its innovative Integrated System, which includes a county-wide recycling program. Their goal is to keep recycling sustainable in Lancaster County by supporting local municipalities and providing ongoing education to the community.

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