Department of Solid Waste Management

Since 2010, Ocean County has been operating a single stream recycling system in order to collect and process recyclable materials.

Single stream means that all bottles, cans, newspapers, cardboard, junk mail, magazines, and mixed paper can be placed in ONE bin. Once those materials arrive at our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Lakewood, sorting equipment (and workers) will separate them from one another so they may be sent to end markets for futher processing/recycling. Download our recycling guide and recycle like a pro!

Single Stream Recycling Flyer (PDF)
Programa de Reciclaje Guía en Español
Programa de Reciclajem em Portuguêsl
Program recyklingu w jezyku polskim

Single Stream Recycling Guide (full list of acceptable and non-acceptable materials)
Programa de reciclaje combinado (lista completa de materiales aceptados y no aceptados)

Items That Should NOT Be Placed With Your Recyclables - Flyer from the NJDEP displaying items commonly found in the recycling stream that do NOT belong there.

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Acceptable

Plastic Bottles, Jars, & Jugs

Stick to items where the container's neck is smaller than its base -- think beverage bottles, shampoo/conditioner, detergent, milk jugs, condiments & salad dressing, etc.

Cans

Aluminum, Steel, & Tin.

Glass bottles, Jars, & Containers

Corrugated Cardboard Boxes

Look for the waffle pattern, please flatten all boxes and make sure they are clean and dry. Remove the greasy part of pizza boxes.

Newspaper & Mixed Paper

Newspapers plus inserts, magazines, catalogs, paperback books, hardcover books with cover removed, junk mail (including envelopes), office paper, brown paper bags, construction paper, wrapping paper, greeting cards (with no glitter).

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Not Acceptable

NO PLASTIC BAGS OF ANY KIND

Please do NOT bag your materials.

NO bags, shrink wrap, plastic film, etc. -- Take these items to bins located at the entrances of grocery stores for proper recycling. find a drop off location HERE: plasticfilmrecycling.org

Please do NOT tie or bundle any materials (paper, cardboard, etc.)

Please wash containers, NO FOOD-CONTAMINATED ITEMS should be placed in your recyclables (soiled pizza boxes, peanut butter jars, etc.)

Please NO SHREDDED PAPER (may be brought to special drop-off areas at both recycling centers)

Aluminum foil or throw-away pans, plastic, or metal deli trays

Aerosol cans for paint, lubricants, motor oil, or other hazardous materials

Bottle caps and jar lids (plastic or metal), plastic utensils, plates & cups (plastic disposable dishware)

CLICK HERE for information on Unconventional Recycling Programs

Dairy tubs (butter, margarine, yogurt, sour cream)

Dinnerware or glassware, window glass, mirrors, ceramic containers, ceramic knick knacks, Pyrex dishes or cookware. Donate these items to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, another local thrift store.

Light Bulbs

Aseptic Packaging (ice cream or juice containers, milk cartons, axed paper or waxed cardboard cartons & food containers)

Garden Hoses & Bowling Balls -- believe it or not we see a ton of both of these items :)

Gray or chip board (Tissue boxes, cereal & pasta boxes, other food boxes, beverage carriers, gift boxes, thin pizza boxes, paper towel & toilet paper rolls, etc.). Note: these items can all be composted

Plastic flower or shrubbery pots (Home Depot and Lowes both accept them at their Garden Centers)

Rigid Plastics (laundry baskets, garbage cans or buckets, lawn furniture, toys, totes) Rigid Plastic Recycling Program (recycle separately)

Plastic food storage containers or lids (tupperware), plastic fast food containers, plastic cafeteria or microwave trays.

PVC pipes/tubing, plastic & metal drums, 5-gallon water bottles.

Cooking pots and pans.

Scrap Metal.

Styrofoam

Telephone Books (may be brought to special drop-off areas at both recycling centers)