Recycling
- All materials placed in your blue container should be relatively clean
(i.e., rinse out jars), dry (i.e., empty all soda and liquid from bottles)
and empty (i.e., empty all packing materials from corrugated boxes).
- Please do not bag your recycle items (except shredded paper) before placing in the blue container.
- Please do not contaminate your recyclable containers with refuse and yard waste. Gilbert maintains a three strikes and you're out policy. That means if your blue container is found to be contaminated three times within one year the Town inspectors will remove your blue containers.
The following items can be recycled at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, 2224 E Queen Creek Rd, Gilbert, Arizona 85297.
Hazardous Waste Light bulbs, including fluorescent, neon, HID, and incandescent Batteries, nickel metal hydride, magnesium, nickel cadmium, lithium, zinc, carbon and zinc silver Adhesives Motor Oil and Antifreeze Household Cleaners Transmission Fluid Hydraulic Fluids Scrap Metal Pesticides and Fungicides Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Fire Extinguishers Propane Tanks Pool Chemicals Automobile and Household Thermostats Camping Cylinders Rimless Automobile Tires Latex and Oil based paints Smoke Detectors Stains and Varnishes Electronic Wastes such as Televisions, Computers, Printers, Monitors, and Cell Phones
Note: Please have your blue container out at the curb by 5am on your scheduled collection day. When in doubt, please call (480) 503-6400.
What do I place in the Blue Container?
| YES | NO | |
|---|---|---|
| CARDBOARD | Boxes made from recycled cardboard including food boxes (inserts and food liners must be removed), laundry soap boxes, cereal boxes, facial tissue boxes, gift boxes and paper tubing (such as bathroom tissue rolls, paper towel rolls, etc.) Corrugated storage boxes, shipping boxes, moving boxes with all packing material removed. Break down and flatten boxes, cut into 2'x2' (or smaller) pieces - then place in blue recycle container. |
Frozen food boxes, waxed cartons (i.e., milk or juice) Packing peanuts, styrofoam, bubble wrap or foam. |
| GLASS | Food and beverage containers such as juice, beer or wine bottles,
baby food jars and salad dressing containers. Labels and caps
do not have to be removed. |
Light bulbs, ceramics, dishes, mirrors Glass ware, window glass and window panes |
| ALUMINUM/METAL | · aluminum or metal cans Soda and beer cans, pet food cans, food cans, commonly known as tin cans that hold soup, meat, pet food, tuna, fruit, vegetables and juice. (Labels do not have to be removed) |
Melded with plastic (as in some candy wrappers), scrap metal, wire coat hangers, electrical wire, auto parts, metal patio furniture and aerosol cans. Aluminum siding or sheets of aluminum |
| PAPER | · junk mail (plastic windows on envelopes ok!) Computer paper, writing paper, copy paper, shredded paper, or index cards. |
Tissues, napkins, paper towels, paper plates,
diapers, sanitary napkins, wrapping paper Any hard bound books and wax-covered paper (as in many frozen food packages) |
| PLASTIC | Plastic bottles and jugs which have a neck smaller than the base or a screw top lid such as soda bottles, detergent bottles and milk jugs. (Labels and caps do not have to be removed) Hard plastics which include all numbered plastics (please see below). We cannot take any sheet plastic (ie bags or bubble wrap) but any plastic item made of hard plastic as long as it is 100% plastic we can now accept. |
Plastic grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, sheets of plastic Pool covers, bubble wrap, styrofoam, PVC, and garden hoses. |
| NUMBERED PLASTICS Check the bottom of your plastics for the numbers below. Depending on the market and facilities, ability to recycle various plastics can vary. This is a general guide for Gilbert’s program. (Labels and caps do not have to be removed) |
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RECYCLABLE |
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RECYCLABLE |
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RECYCLABLE |
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RECYCLABLE |
Polyethylene Terephthalate- Plastic drink bottles, mouthwash, ketchup and salad dressing bottles, peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars, prepared food trays. 
High Density Polyethylene- Milk, water, juice, cosmetic, shampoo, dish and laundry detergent bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, and plastic toys. 
Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC) - Clear packaging, disposable bottles, plastic toys, shower curtains, pipes, siding, window frames. 
Low Density Polyethylene- Squeezable bottles such as honey, mustard, dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags. 
Polystyrene- CD jackets, food containers, aspirin bottles, plates, plastic cutlery. 
The category of "Other" includes any resin not specifically numbered 1-6, or combinations of one or more of these resins. Also includes biodegradable corn- or sugar-based plastics. Where do I recycle ...?
- Plastic Bags - Recycle with your local grocery store
- Clothing/Toys - Donate to your favorite charity
- Scrap Metal and Auto Parts - Your local recycler or Abitibi Recycling Center - 390 W Ray Rd, Chandler: (480) 821-0003
- Yard Waste - Compost - Containers are available from Public Works Solid Waste: (480) 503-6400
- Household Hazardous Waste - Call Public Works Environmental Technician for event information: (480) 503-6400
- Phone Book - Place in your blue recycle container.
- Plastic Loose Council - Peanut hotline: 1-800 828-2214
Recycling Presentations
The Town of Gilbert gives recycling presentations to various groups (i.e. Schools, boy scouts, etc.). To arrange for a presentation to be given to your school or group, call (480) 503-6440.
* Shredded Paper Notice
The Town has made it possible for the many people who shred personal documents to recycle that material in the blue curbside bins. Shredded paper is now accepted in blue barrels, as long as it is put in clear plastic bags. Prior to the change, shredded paper was not accepted as part of the Town’s recycling program.
Adding shredded paper to the accepted items list is important because more people than ever are shredding all kinds of personal documents, from bank statements to credit card applications. The Gilbert Police Department has said that shredding these documents is one of the most important things a person can do to protect themselves from Identity Theft. Continue shredding your documents, and feel free to place the shredded material in clear plastic bags before dropping them in your blue curbside container. For questions on the Town’s recycling program call (480) 503-6440.