Here’s a list of everything you can and can’t recycle in Connecticut.

via nbcconnecticut.com

Police say they found Gorneau with 700 pounds of scrap metal in his truck.

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All you need to safely view the eclipse is a cereal box and a few other household items.

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Pepperoni Pizza in Cardboard Take Out Box, Stacked Boxes web stock

Mark Mirko / Hartford Courant

Mansfield, Ct. - 09/11/2018 - A plastic bag rests atop a draw gate in the town of Mansfield, where a plastic bag ban is being considered. Retailers and environmentalists want statewide action to ban single-use plastic bags, but don't agree with Gov. Lamont on how to do that. Photograph by Mark Mirko | [email protected]

Orlando Sentinel

Poke holes in the cap of an old milk jug so it can be used as a watering can.

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Frontal shot of spray paint can. Man is holding it in hand while graffiti is in the progress.

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Toaster oven stock art.

Courant File Photo

Beer, wine and champagne bottles.

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Soda bottles on white background ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **

Connecticut's recycling program is in trouble and those problems are already costing local taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

One of the troubles is that residents continue to attempt to recycle things that shouldn't be put in recycling bins. Items like single-use plastic bags and broken glass screw up sorting machines at recycling centers, costing time and adding to repair expenses.

Many non-recyclable items, such as prescription drug containers and mini-plastic bottles, are so small that they jam up sorting machines. Other materials, such as Styrofoam of any type, simply can't be recycled with current technology. Those materials should be put in with regular garbage, which can be burned to generate electricity.

State and local officials and garbage hauling companies are continuing their attempts to educate consumers about what should and should not be put in those blue recycling bins. You can double check on what should or should not be recycled on the state's RecycleCT.com website.

What items are non-recyclable?

Plastic bags

Single-use plastic shopping bags shouldn't be put in with other recycling. They can be returned to many grocery and retail stores that now have special separate containers for plastic bag recycling, or thrown away with regular garbage to be burned.

Broken glass, window glass, mirrors, light bulbs

Ceramics, appliances

Items like ceramic dishes, toasters, and irons must not be put in recycling bins.

Non-food aerosol cans

Aerosol spray cans used for non-food products such as bug spray and spray paint should not be recycled. Food aerosol cans such as those for vegetable spray or whipped cream that have any food left in them are also banned from recycling bins.

Prescription drug containers

Knives, syringes, needles

Household waste

Paper towels, tissue, sanitary products and other regular trash cannot be recycled.

Wax paper, wrapping paper, shredded paper

Dog and cat food bags

Greasy cardboard containers

While pizza boxes that are free of any food residue or heavy grease can be recycled, any cardboard pizza or take-out containers contaminated with any grease, oil or food remnants are prohibited.

Styrofoam

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

City of Fort Lauderdale and all Broward County residents are invited to safely dispose of their household hazardous waste and electronics at the Household Hazardous Waste Day Collection Event on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. located at 101 N. Andrews Avenue. With proof of residency, residents can drop off hazardous household items and electronics at no charge. Acceptable materials include paint, pesticides, used motor oil, lawn chemicals, pool chemicals, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, household cleaners and automobile batteries televisions, computers and accessories, fax machines, printers and cell phones. Join the fun January 25th.

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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

City of Fort Lauderdale and all Broward County residents are invited to safely dispose of their household hazardous waste and electronics at the Household Hazardous Waste Day Collection Event on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. located at 101 N. Andrews Avenue. With proof of residency, residents can drop off hazardous household items and electronics at no charge. Acceptable materials include paint, pesticides, used motor oil, lawn chemicals, pool chemicals, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, household cleaners and automobile batteries televisions, computers and accessories, fax machines, printers and cell phones. Join the fun January 25th.

Click here for the whole story" data-src="/wp-content/uploads/migration/2019/03/10/JAGAT4S52NA5VH6HBSSP6J3OBE.jpg">

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

City of Fort Lauderdale and all Broward County residents are invited to safely dispose of their household hazardous waste and electronics at the Household Hazardous Waste Day Collection Event on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. located at 101 N. Andrews Avenue. With proof of residency, residents can drop off hazardous household items and electronics at no charge. Acceptable materials include paint, pesticides, used motor oil, lawn chemicals, pool chemicals, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, household cleaners and automobile batteries televisions, computers and accessories, fax machines, printers and cell phones. Join the fun January 25th.

Click here for the whole story

Toxic fluid containers

Any bottles or cans that contained antifreeze, pesticides, motor oil, paint, household cleaners or other toxic materials must not be recycled.

Separate plastic container caps

Do not put separate plastic caps from containers for milk, soda or any other liquid in recycling unless they are screwed on to the original container.

Scrap metal

Metal pieces that aren't part of any container, such as wire coat hangers, should not be put in recycling.

What materials are recyclable?

Clean food and beverage containers

All cardboard, glass or aluminum containers including and milk containers must be cleaned and rinsed before being put in recycling bins. Cardboard and clear plastic egg containers can be recycled if they are clean.

Empty food aerosol cans

As long as they are completely empty, such spray cans may be recycled.

Unbroken glass containers

Items that include wine and liquor bottles, glass storage jars and juice bottles can be recycled after being washed and rinsed.

Paper

Including newspapers, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, cereal boxes, office paper can be recycled.

Corrugated cardboard

Should be folded flat and no larger than 2 feet by 3 feet in size.

Plastic containers

Soda, juice, shampoo and other plastic containers can be recycled once they are washed and rinsed.

Gregory B. Hladky can be reached at [email protected].

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