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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a curbside recycling bin?
By calling 72-EARTH (723-2784); please allow one week for delivery. Each single family household is allowed two (2) bins. A second bin will be provided upon request, at no charge. The second bin is provided upon request. The city encourages two bins to easily separate paper products from metal, plastic, and glass products.
- Call City Link at 727-8000
- Order online at www.cityofws.org via Citizen Service Desk
- Call 72-EARTH (723-2784) – The Recycling Hotline
- Order online via the Recycle Today web page: www.cityofws.org/recycling
How can I get a replacement for my bin that is missing or damaged?
By calling the Recycling Hotline at 72-EARTH (723-2784) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. There is no charge for the replacement bin.
My recycling was missed. How do I report a missed pickup?
First, check to see if you were left a red non-collection courtesy notice explaining why the materials were not collected. If you did not find a notice, call the Recycling Hotline at 72-EARTH (723-2784) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Please allow 24 hours for pickup.
What if I have more recyclable materials than will fit in my curbside bin?
You have several options:
(1) Request a second bin by calling 72-EARTH (723-2784) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. (2) A brown paper bag may be used to collect paper items. Do not use plastic bags for recyclables, except shredded paper which must be tied. (3) Take your additional materials to the free recycling drop-off center at the Hanes Mill Road Landfill.
The recycling truck usually comes by my house late in the day. Why should I place my bin at the curb by 6:00 a.m.?
Route schedules may change due to employee changes, weather conditions, or other factors. Late set-outs may delay your pickup until your next collection day.
Should I put my recycling bin out when it's raining?
Yes. Not putting your bin out on a rainy day may cause recycling crews to work extra long later if many residents set out more bins than usual.
I would like to recycle, but I cannot carry my recycling bin to the curb. So, how can I recycle?
If you have a mobility impairment, documented by a physician, and there is no one in your household who can move the recycling container to and from the curb, we can help. Call 72-EARTH (723-2784) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays for information and assistance. Once the documentation is received, your curbside bin will be switched out for a special bin.
I'm moving. What should I do with my recycling bin(s)?
Leave the bin(s) for the next resident to use. If there isn't a bin at your new residence, call the Recycling Hotline at 72-EARTH to have a bin delivered.
What is NOT accepted for recycling?
Aluminum foil, aluminum pie tins, aluminum scraps, antifreeze containers, books, binders, ceramics, deli containers, dishes, drinking glasses, hazardous waste containers, light bulbs, mirrors, motor oil containers, paint cans, pesticide containers, pizza boxes or other cardboard boxes that are contaminated with grease or food residue, plastic bags, plastic newspaper bags, plastic wrap, Pyrex containers, spiral notebooks, Styrofoam, wax-coated boxes, wide-mouth containers (margarine tubs, ice cream pails, etc.) or window glass. If in doubt, please call 72-EARTH.
Why should I recycle?
Recycling has both environmental and economic benefits. Recycling reduces the amount of waste generated by your household, saves landfill space, and reduces the costs for landfill disposal. Also, recycling saves energy and natural resources (i.e., water, minerals, trees), reduces air and water pollution, and creates markets for recyclable materials.
What else can I do?
Encourage others to reduce waste and recycle. Don't forget to "close the loop" by purchasing recycled content products and packaging.
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Can bottle caps and lids be recycled?
Yes, metal caps/lids; No, plastic caps/lids
Can I recycle....
... envelopes with the plastic windows? What about staples? Glossy advertisements? Post-its? Can I recycle paper with tape on it?
Yes.
... spiral notebooks?
No.
... batteries? Why should I?
No, Batteries can not be recycled through the curbside program.
Car batteries and regular batteries can be recycled by being taken to 3RC The EnviroStation – the Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility across from Bowman Gray Stadium at 1401 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
... cereal boxes?
Yes, they are chipboard (paperboard with a gray inside).
... plastic bags?
Not in your recycle bin.
Most grocery stores provide recycling bins for plastic bags.
... my cell phone?
... my computer and printer?
Old cell phones can be mailed in to be recycled. Free prepaid mailers are available by calling 727-8153 or can be picked up in the Lobby of the Bryce A. Stuart Municipal Building, 100 E. First Street. Computers and printers can be recycled at Goodwill Attended Donation Centers through Reconnect, a Dell/Goodwill partnership.
Why can't I recycle pizza boxes?
They generally contain grease and/or food residue.
What do the little numbers on the bottom of plastic containers represent or stand for?
The numbers on the bottom of plastic containers are resin identification codes and they indicate the type of plastic a container is made from. The codes are not intended to mean that a particular product is recyclable, which is why recycling programs identify what plastic products are acceptable and are not acceptable.
Can I recycle ANY plastic that has a recycling sign and number on it?
No, it must be a plastic bottle with a neck that is smaller than the base or widest part.
If plastic doesn’t have a recycling logo on it, can it still be recycled?
Per Terry Feeney, Recycle America, a Recycler would have to see such a bottle before accepting it. There has to be a market for it in order to be accepted. Most bottles are coded 1-7.
Do I have to separate glass, plastic, aluminum, and steel?
No.
But paper products must be separated from glass, plastic, aluminum and steel containers.
How clean do containers need to be before I toss them into the recycling bin?
Simply rinse; no need to wash.
Do I need to take the labels off jars and cans?
No, labels are OK.
Should I step on plastic bottles and crush cans before recycling?
Yes, if you need more capacity in your bin.
What are the basic procedures for recycling aluminum cans?
Empty, rinse, crush.
Is recycling required by law in Winston Salem?
No, it is a voluntary program. But a new state law, effective on October 1, 2009, makes it illegal to dispose of plastic bottles in the trash; they must be recycled. Aluminum cans are also banned from the landfill from a prior law. (Read news article about plastic bottles banned in landfill)
What about recycling yard waste? Is it required by law?
It is not required by law, but N.C. State Law prohibits the disposal of yard wastes (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, tree limbs, etc.) in sanitary landfills. Therefore, the Division operates 2 permanent leaf drop-off sites, Reynolds Park Road which only accept leaves from city Sanitation crews during the leaf season, and Overdale Yard Waste Facility which accepts leaves from the general public as well as the city Sanitation crews throughout the year.
If something is made from recycled paper or plastic, can it be recycled again?
Yes.
What can I do with packing peanuts?
They can be recycled at Mail Boxes, Etc. It is also a good idea to check with packaging service stores.
What is being done to help Winston-Salem schools recycle?
School recycling information.
Where do Winston-Salem's recyclables go?
Once collected, they are transported to Waste Management/Recycle America’s Materials Processing Facility (MRF).
What is the process of recycling like?
At the MRF, the recyclables are separated, baled, and prepared for market.
Does stuff put in recycling bins ever get thrown away?
Yes, unacceptable items, known as contamination, are taken to the landfill.
What are the top three simple steps I can take to reduce land fill waste and improve recycling in Winston-Salem?
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Learn what is accepted in the program and then recycle everything that you can. Encourage others to recycle, whether at home, school, work, and on the go.
What would happen if everyone in Winston-Salem stopped recycling?
If everyone stopped recycling, there would be increased environmental problems, an increase in waste in the landfills, and the life of landfills would be reduced.
What are the benefits of recycling?
Benefits of recycling include: saves natural resources and landfill space; reduces the need for new landfills; conserves energy; reduces pollution and litter; creates jobs.
Can some things be recycled more easily than others?
For a Recycler, paper is the easiest.
Is paper worth any money when you recycle it?
Yes.
Notes: Terry Feeney, District Manager - Recycle America Materials Processing Facility contributed to answering these questions. He may be contacted at 631-9439.
Effective October 1, 2009 it will be illegal to dispose of rigid plastic containers (bottles) that have a neck smaller than the body of the container. More info can be found at www.p2pays.org
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