What Bin Does It Go In?

Explore this page to learn in detail what items should and should not go in which bin for each of the City provided waste services: Recycling, Trash, Yard Waste, Bulk Pickup and Household Hazardous Waste.  It is important that items are placed in the proper bin to ensure they are disposed of properly.

Recycling

Download Recycling 101 Sheet
Download The City’s Ultimate Waste Disposal Guide

The items below can go in your blue recycling dumpster or rollcart.  Keep them loose, clean & dry. Always flatten your cardboard.  All recyclables can be mixed together in the same bin (AKA single stream, commingled recycling, mixed recycling).

Keep Them Loose

(Toss recyclables directly into your Blue Bin. No bagged recyclables or plastic bags please)

Keep Them Clean

(Rinse or wipe food residue before recycling)

Keep Them Dry

(Empty liquids and food residue. Keep dumpster and rollcart lids closed)

Always Flatten Your Cardboard

(Help save space so everyone can recycle. Breakdown cardboard boxes)

Paper

(note paper, office paper, notebooks, folders)

Newspaper

(No plastic sleeve)

Mail

(Include envelopes with plastic windows)

Magazines & Catalogs

(No plastic cover/wrap)

Telephone Books & Paperback Books

Hardback Books

(Hardback cover should be separated from the pages before being placed in the Blue Bin)

Paper Bags

Gift Wrap

(NO Glitter, Foil, or Translucent Wrap)

Shredded paper

(Secure in a paper bag, staple closed and label the bag paper shredding)

Flattened Cardboard Boxes

Dry Goods Boxes

Cardboard Tubes

Pizza Boxes

(If the grease spot is smaller than the palm of your hand, recycle the entire box)

Cardboard Beverage Carriers

Plastic Bottles

(Lids and labels okay to leave on)

Plastic Tubs

(Lids and labels okay to leave on)

Plastic Jugs & Containers

(Lids and labels okay to leave on)

Glass Bottles

(Lids and labels okay to leave on)

Glass Jars

(Lids and labels okay to leave on)

Aluminum Bottles & Cans

Steel/Tin Cans

(Lids and labels okay to leave on)

Aluminum Foil

(Clean)

Aluminum Pie Plates

(Clean)

Aluminum Trays

(Clean)

Cartons

(Only cartons from the shelf or refrigerated sections. Cartons from the freezer need to go in the trash)

Paperboard Cans

(Dough cans, chip cans, mixed nuts containers, etc.)

NO Plastic Bags, Wrap or Film

(Take them back to the grocery store. Find a dropoff location)

NO Trash

NO Styrofoam

(foam cups, plates, to-go boxes, coolers, foam packing materials, etc.)

NO Food Waste or Food Contaminated Items

(Consider composting at your home)

NO One-Time-Use Disposables

(Even biodegradable utensils are not recyclable)

NO Cartons From Freezer Section

(Cartons from the freezer need to go in the trash. Cartons from the shelf or refrigerated sections can be recycled)

NO Paper Cups

(hot coffee cups)

NO Pouches

NO Aerosol Cans

(Take to Household Hazardous Waste to dispose)

NO Ceramic or Glass Plates, Glasses, Cookware or Bakeware

(If in usable condition, donate it!)

NO Yard Waste

NO Garden Hoses

(Hoses clog machinery)

NO Sharps

(Do not put a container of sharps in the Blue Bin)

NO Rigid Plastics

Trash

The items below can be placed in your trash dumpster (brown) or rollcart (green).  Trash is also referred to as garbage, landfill or rubbish.

Wait! Before you trash it, find places that can reuse or recycle it.  Search our database!

Plastic Bags

(Take them back to the grocery store. Find a dropoff location)

Plastic Wrap & Film

(Take them back to the grocery store. Find a dropoff location)

Plastic Packing Materials

(Deflate and take them back to the grocery store.
Find a dropoff location)

Styrofoam

(foam cups, plates, to-go boxes, foam packing materials, etc.)

Chip Bags & Candy Wrappers

Paper Cups

Cartons From Freezer Section

(Cartons from the freezer need to go in the trash. Cartons from the shelf or refrigerated sections can be recycled)

Napkins, Paper Towels & Tissues

Disposable Utensils

(Even biodegradable utensils are not recyclable)

Food Waste

(Consider composting at your home)

Clothing

(If in usable condition,
donate it!)

Pet Food Bags

Pet Waste

Bagged Garbage

Greasy Pizza Boxes

(Tip: Trash the greasy bottom and recycle the top)

Glass or Ceramic Plates, Glasses, Cookware or Bakeware

(If in usable condition,
donate it!)

Large Plastic Items

(…like laundry baskets, tubs and crates. If in usable condition,
donate it!)

Diapers

Rubber Hoses

NO Yard Waste

Vinyl Toys, Records or Siding

Plastic & Metal Hangers

Rigid Plastic Items

(…like toys or furniture. If in usable condition,
donate it!)

NO Recyclables

Yard Waste

The items below can be placed in your green yard waste dumpsters or rollcart.  Yard Waste is also referred to as Green Waste.  The City of St. Louis operates weekly yard waste collection.
Learn more about Yard Waste collection.

Grass Clippings

Leaves

Garden Trimmings

Flowers & Plants

Untreated Wood

Sticks, Branches, Logs & Limbs

(If wider than 2″ diameter and/or longer than 6ft., bundle and put out for bulk pickup)

Consider Composting Your Yard Waste at Home

NO Plastic Bagged Yard Waste

NO Trash

NO Pet Waste

NO Food Waste

(Consider composting at your home)

NO Recyclables

Bulk Pickup

The items below can be placed out for once-per-month collection during your regularly scheduled Bulk Pickup week.  You can place up to 3 items out each month.  Residents who use rollcarts should place bulk items at the curb in front of their home and at least 3 feet away from cars.  Residents who use alley dumpsters should place bulk items in the alley directly behind their home and at least 3 feet from cars, not leaning on the dumpster.

Learn more about Bulk Pickup services.  The items below can also be dropped off at a transfer station once-per-month.  You can drop off up to 3 items each month.

Learn more about Bulk Dropoff services. 

Furniture

(Find a place to reuse or recycle your item)

Appliances

(Find a place to reuse or recycle your item. Remove doors from refrigerators)

Mattresses

(Find a place to reuse or recycle your item)

Bundled Branches & Logs

(No longer than 6″ in diameter and 4 feet long, should be bundled and put out for bulk pickup)

Automotive Batteries

Motor Oil

(Can also be recycled at many service stations)

Tires

(Up to 3 per household)

Electronics

(Computers, printers, telephones, power cords, etc. Find a place to reuse or recycle your item)

Household Hazardous Waste

Also known as HHW, the items below are considered hazardous and should be disposed of properly.  St. Louis city residents have access to the St. Louis Household Hazardous Waste dropoff sites which accept all of the items below.

Learn more about the regional HHW dropoff facilities

Paint

(Find a place to reuse or recycle your item)

Stains & Varnishes

Pesticides & Herbicides

Poisons

Gasoline & Other Fuels

Solvents & Stripper

Aerosols

Gas Cylinders

(BBQ pit size or smaller)

Fire Extinguisher

Fluorescent Tubes

Rechargeable Batteries

(Find a place to reuse or recycle your item)

Alkaline Batteries

(Find a place to reuse or recycle your item)

Smoke Detectors

(Find a place to reuse or recycle your item)

Antifreeze, Brake & Transmission Fluid

Pool Chemicals & Other Acids/Bases

Wood Preservatives

Driveway Sealant

Mercury Containing Items

(Such as thermometers, thermostats and mercuric salts)

Seasonal

The items below are collected seasonally and have designated dates and locations for collection.  Details will be posted when these services are available.

Christmas Trees

(Recycle them at 3 City park locations. Click for more details!)

Holiday/String Lights

(Christmas Tree + Light Recycling 2021)