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
Check Out the Recycle Coach Widget
On Your Phone? Download the Recycle Coach Mobile App
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
Keep Them Clean
Keep Them Dry
Always Flatten Your Cardboard
Paper
Newspaper
Magazines & Catalogs
Gift Wrap
Shredded paper
Pizza Boxes
Plastic Bottles
Plastic Tubs
Plastic Jugs & Containers
Glass Bottles
Glass Jars
Steel/Tin Cans
Aluminum Foil
Aluminum Pie Plates
Aluminum Trays
Cartons
Paperboard Cans
NO Plastic Bags, Wrap or Film
NO Styrofoam
NO Food Waste or Food Contaminated Items
NO One-Time-Use Disposables
NO Cartons From Freezer Section
NO Paper Cups
NO Aerosol Cans
NO Ceramic or Glass Plates, Glasses, Cookware or Bakeware
NO Garden Hoses
NO Sharps
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
Plastic Wrap & Film
Plastic Packing Materials
Find a dropoff location)
Styrofoam
Cartons From Freezer Section
Disposable Utensils
Food Waste
Clothing
donate it!)
Glass or Ceramic Plates, Glasses, Cookware or Bakeware
donate it!)
Large Plastic Items
donate it!)
Rigid Plastic Items
donate it!)
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.
Sticks, Branches, Logs & Limbs
NO Food Waste
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
Appliances
Mattresses
Bundled Branches & Logs
Motor Oil
Tires
Electronics
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
Gas Cylinders
Rechargeable Batteries
Alkaline Batteries
Smoke Detectors
Mercury Containing Items
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
Holiday/String Lights