Recycling Know No’s: Are you a Smart Recycler?

By Liz Antanavica, Refuse & Recycling Administrator

Bedford residents are dedicated recyclers. Blue-wheeled recycling carts are paired next to black trash carts at almost every house on trash day while the Compost & Recycling Center is abuzz with activity every Wednesday and Saturday. Public Works receives calls from enthusiastic residents about Town’s recycling programs.

People can all say confidently that mixed paper, cardboard, and aluminum soda cans belong in the recycling. But often, people may find themselves second guessing some other common materials that don’t seem so obvious. This questioning happens in my house, too, with the frequent “Mom, is this recyclable?” It’s okay to get hung up sometimes.

Bedford’s curbside recycling program accepts the following basic materials:

Paper and cardboard
Metal food and beverage cans
Glass bottles and jars
Plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs.

Items intended for recycling should be clean, dry, and loose. Never bag recyclables. Flexible plastics such as bags and case overwrap are not acceptable in the blue bins. Clothing, scrap metal, and wood waste should also not be placed in the curbside recycling. Remember, the curbside program is not a catch-all for items we wish could be recycled.

Think you’ve got it down? Test your recycling knowledge with a quick (and fun?) recycling 101 quiz. https://recyclesmartma.org/quiz-1-0/

Recycling is a great way to keep valuable materials out of the trash. It’s just as important to keep unacceptable materials out of the recycling. The Waste Wizard tool on the Trash & Recycling website is now programmed with donation, recycling, and disposal advice for close to 800 common household items for the times when you need a little support. Thank you for helping to make Bedford’s recycling program a success!

Want to know more? Take a look back at some popular Recycle Know Nos: