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. When those materials arrive to our Recycling Center Processing Facility, the sorting equipment (and workers) will separate these materials. 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 (full list of all accepted and non-accepted recycling materials)
Programa de reciclaje combinado (lista completa de materiales aceptados y no aceptados)

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

Acceptable

Plastic Bottles, Jars or Jugs

Where the neck is smaller than the base of the container like beverage, shampoo/conditioner, detergent, milk jugs, condiments or salad dressing

Cans

Aluminum cans, 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.

Mixed Paper

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

Not Acceptable

DO NOT TIE OR BUNDLE PAPER

NO SHREDDED PAPER

DO NOT BAG MATERIAL

NO Plastic Bags, Shrink Wtrap or Plastic Film, take these to a grocery store to get recycled, find a drop off location here plasticfilmrecycling.org

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 cupsUnconventional Recycling Programs (Drop Off/Mail in Opportunity)

Dairy tubs such as margarine, yogurt, sour cream.

Dinnerware or glassware, window glass, mirrors, ceramic containers, ceramic knick knacks, Pyrex dish or cookware, Light Bulbs. Donate items to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill or Thrift Stores

File folders, stickers or address label sheet waste.

Frozen food-ice cream or frozen juice containers.

Garden hoses

Gray or chip board such as tissue, cereal, pasta, beverage carriers, gift boxes, thin pizza boxes, paper plates, paper to-go containers, paper towel or toilet tissue rolls. If you don't want to toss them you can compost them instead.

Motor oil bottles.

Plastic flower or shrubbery pot. Home Depot and Lowes Accept them at the Garden Center

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

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

PVC pipe/tubing, plastic, metal drums or 5-gallon water bottles.

Pots and pans.

Scrap Metal.

Soiled Cardboard Pizza boxes.

Styrofoam of any type.Unconventional Recycling Programs (Drop Off Opportunity)

Telephone Books (recycle separately)

Waxed paper or waxed cardboard carton containers like milk, ice cream, juices.