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1. Is shredded paper recyclable?

It is recyclable, shredded into pieces at least ¼ inch by 3 inches, and contained in a paper bag secured with a single staple.  Paper cut into smaller pieces is not recyclable and should be placed in regular garbage.

2. What can be recycled under the city's residential recycling program?

Boxboard: The type of material most food and cereal boxes are made from is cardboard, clean aluminum foil, magazines, newspapers, and junk mail, even envelopes with plastic windows, plastics with the numbers 1 and 2 only.  This includes plastic bottles and containers (with no film, no bags, and no Styrofoam), regular paper, rinsed aluminum and metal cans, rinsed food and beverage cartons, and rinsed glass bottles and jars.  Please remove the lids and include them in your recycling (No mirrored or window glass).

3. Do I need to rinse my recyclable items that had food in them?

Please rinse food containers, bottles, and jars. 

4. Should I put my recycling in plastic bags?

No.  Recyclable items are to be put directly in the bin.  Items in plastic bags will not be picked up. 

5. May I recycle my plastic bags in the curbside bin?

No.  Plastic bags and Styrofoam are not accepted.

6. How do I report a missed collection or service problem?

To report a missed pickup contact: please contact Waste Management at 305-296-8297

7. What items cannot be placed in my garbage?

Hazardous chemicals, car batteries, paints, radioactive waste, gasoline, oil, or construction debris.

8. Does someone go through my trash bags and take out the recycling for me?

No. The City and Waste Management provides homeowners in the city of Key West with one green cart for garbage and one for recycling. It is the responsibility of the homeowner/ tenant to put all recycling items in the blue bin. Items in the recycling cart should be loose and not bagged. 

9. Can I use my blue bin as a garbage bin?

Recycling carts should only be used for loose recyclable items since the bins are collected by 3 different trucks. One for yard waste, one for garbage, and one for recycling. By putting garbage in your blue bin, it could potentially contaminate all the recycling in the truck. 

10. Can I use my blue bin for yard waste if I put a yard waste sticker on it?

Blue recycling carts are only for items accepted in the recycling programs. Yard waste in blue bins will result in a non-collection. 

11. Why does the garbage truck sometimes collect recycling bins?

If a recycling bin has more than 10% contamination, (food, yard waste, plastic bags, garbage, or pet waste) the garbage truck will pick up instead of recycling truck in order to avoid contamination of the whole truck. 

12. Why was my recycling bin not emptied?

If the bin has more than 10% contamination, it would not be acceptable to be collected for recycling. 

13. Can I put wood in my recycling or yard waste bin?

Wood is considered construction debris and cannot be placed in yard waste or recycling bins. Please call Waste Management for assistance. 305-296-8297

14. Can I recycle clear plastic wrap, plastic bags, or freezer bags?

Only hard plastics are accepted in the city recycling program. Please visit your local grocery store to recycle plastic bags.