There are many materials that can be recycled, but can't go in your recycling bin. This page is designed to give a basic background of materials that have special recycling programs. This is not a complete list.
Do not recycle plastic bags in your home recycling bin. There are a wide variety of plastic bags and other film plastics that can be recycled if brought to your local grocery store or retail outlet.
It's easy to recycle your film plastics! Just start collecting them in your home in a designated location (junk drawer, pantry, broom closet, or convenient location in the kitchen) and bring them to a grocery store or retail outlet. Ask a customer service employee where the plastic bag recycling bin is located.
Certain stores are required by law to accept these plastics for recycling. Learn more about the NYS Plastic Bag Reduction, ReUse and Recycling Act
New Yorkers throw away 1.4 billion pounds of recoverable fabric and textiles every year. Most Americans don't realize that they can donate a wide variety of materials in their local clothing drop-off bins, not just clothes and shoes.
Acceptable items don't have to be in perfect condition. Donations can be stained, ripped, worn, missing buttons, broken zippers, or be out of fashion! As long as your fabric is odorless and dry, it can be recycled into new materials like insulation or carpeting.
Check out all the materials you can donate at a clothing drop off bin:
Linens:
Footwear (single or in pairs):
Clothing:
Accessories:
Other:
Click here to find a clothing drop-off bin near you.
NYS laws required that any store that sells rechargeable batteries must also accept them for recycling. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that offers an online database of regional battery recycling options. Rechargeable batteries are commonly accepted for recycling at home improvement centers like Lowes or Home Depot.
Alkaline batteries are classified by the federal government as non-hazardous and are approved by the NYS DEC to enter the municipal solid waste stream. However, special recycling programs for these batteries do exist, but often cost money to ship them away. Some options for Alkaline battery recycling include
E-Lot Recycling (Glenmont, NY)
>>Rechargeable_Battery_Recycling_Brochure_May_2015_revision.pdf
Under the New York State Wireless Recycling Act, all wireless telephone service providers that offer phones for sale are required to accept cell phones for reuse or recycling.
Residents also have the option to bring e-waste to a participating electronics retail store, such as Best Buy, Staples, etc. but fees may apply.
Commercial businesses, schools, or other governmental entities need to seek other means to recycle electronics, as required by New York State law. The DEC offers a database of registered electronic waste recycling facilities.
Residents of Niskayuna can recycle electronics for free (with a valid permit) at the Niskayuna Recycling Center located at 2555 River Road.
View a list of e-waste items accepted at the County Recycling Center
here>Bulk-Electronics_Flyer.pdf
They accept :
Visit their webpage to learn more!
(expanded polystyrene or "Styrofoam peanuts")
You can bring packing peanuts to a local UPS store for re-use and recycling.
Locally, Nott Street Office and Union Street Office also accept polystyrene packing peanuts for reuse.
All scrap metal has inherent value for creating new materials.
View a list of local scrap metal recycling locations by clicking here.
If your items are still functional, consider donating them to a local charitable organization. There are many church groups that sponsor thrift stores that accept donations. Making donations not only improves the lives of others in your community while extending the useful life of our goods, but it also helps prevent pollution by reducing material sent to landfills.
You may be entitled to tax deductions for making large donations.
>>>Habitat for Humanity<<< will pick up bulk donations for FREE!
Learn more about other things you can recycle>>Super_recycler_brochures_May_2015.pdf
Terracycle is a revolutionary recycling company that has launched FREE recycling programs for conventionally un-recyclable products. These programs are sponsored by the brands that manufacturer the products that are conventionally not recyclable. All you have to do is sign up to join, start collecting the item in your home, school, or office, download free shipping labels and send the waste to be recycled. You could even earn points for your favorite charitable organization of school
Here's a sample of some of their FREE recycling programs with Terracycle:
AND MORE!
This is not a complete list of everything that can get recycled through special programs. This page is still under construction. Please check back again for updates.
Last updated January 1, 2020