A Resident’s Guide to Recycling in the Mews
(New Items in Red to conform with Arlington County Guidelines)


(Thanks to Fairlington Meadows Condominium Association and Capitol Services of Virginia for the use of their recycling guidelines.)

 

 

 

WHAT items can I recycle?

Glass (brown, green and clear), aluminum and metal cans, plastic bottles with necks, newspapers and other specific paper items.   All items must be free of food contamination.  See below for information on specific items that are acceptable and unacceptable for recycling.

 

WHERE do I place my recyclable items?

In the bins that are placed near the entrance to each courtyard.  The bins are for plastic, glass, and metal items only, and items may be commingled.  Paper items must be placed in paper bags (NOT PLASTIC BAGS) or tied with string and placed on the ground next to the bins, not in the bins.  Do not place paper or plastic bags in the recycling bins. Food contamination can cause an ENTIRE batch of commingled recyclables to be rejected.

 

WHEN can I place items out for recycling?

The bins are placed at court entrances on Tuesday and are collected by our trash hauler on Wednesday morning.  Paper items are picked up later in the day.  Do not place recyclables out if the bins are not present.

 

 

Items That Are Recyclable

 

·       Glass

Clear, brown or green glass bottles and jars, rinsed clean. Residents can leave the plastic caps on their bottles which will now be recycled. (New Item to conform with Arlington County Guidelines). Recycle Soda bottles and cans.  Please use caution when placing items in the bins, to avoid breaking glass and causing a hazard for yourself and others.

 

·       Aluminum/Metal

All types of metal food and beverage cans, including pet food cans. Do not recycle aluminum foil, pie pans, food residue, hangers, or any other type of metal.  Rinse clean and crush flat, if possible, to reduce volume in the bins.

 

·        Plastic

Plastic bottles and jugs with necks, labeled 1 through 7 inside the recycling symbol (e.g., milk and laundry detergent jugs, soda bottles and water bottles). Also, yogurt cups, deli containers, clamshell containers, margarine tubs, and flower pots (New Items to conform with Arlington County Guidelines). This does not include plastic bags or Styrofoam.   Rinse clean and crush to the extent possible.  Plastic grocery bags can be reused then recycled at most grocery stores.

 

·        Paper

Clean newspapers, inserts, catalogs, junk mail, magazines, paper bags, computer paper, telephone books, and paperboard boxes (e.g., cereal, cracker and tissue) flattened and not contaminated by food.  Plastic wrappings and wax paper inserts should be discarded.  All paper items must be contained securely in paper bags or tied with string, so they do not blow away.  Moving and other large boxes must be flattened.

 

·        Corrugated Cardboard

Break down and flatten cardboard boxes and stack them adjacent to recycling bins. Keep corrugated cardboard separate from mixed paper above. Do not recycle waxed cardboard.

 

Items That Cannot be Recycled

 

·        Glass items other than bottles and jars

This includes ceramics, dishes, crystal and drinking glasses, mirror or window glass, and light bulbs.

 

·        Plastic items other than bottles and jugs

This includes plastic grocery bags; styrofoam; meat trays; plastic or styrofoam frozen food trays; prescription bottles; and all types of packaging materials such as peanuts and bubble wrap.  Clean peanuts and bubble wrap may be taken to the UPS store in Shirlington for reuse by them. 

 

·       Metal items other than food and pet food cans

This includes jar lids, foil items and other metal items of any sort.

 

·        Paper

Do not recycle wax paper items (paper cups, milk cartons, or frozen food cartons), paper/books with plastic or metal binding, pizza boxes, tissues, napkins, and other items contaminated with food.

 

·        Items not listed

If you find yourself wondering about an item not listed, it’s a good idea to follow this rule:  “When in doubt, throw it out!”

 

·        Household Hazardous Materials (HHM)

Household hazardous materials are hazardous chemicals that should not be thrown out with your regular trash or recycled because they might spill or leak and contaminate the environment.  These include such items as home, lawn and garden chemicals, paints, items containing mercury, flammable cleaning solvents, small propane tanks, corrosives, etc.  These materials may be taken to Arlington County’s HHM drop-off facility located at the Water Pollution Control Plant, 3402 S. Glebe Road, (703) 228-6832.  The HHM entrance is at 3155 S. Fern Street.  Saturday hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; you may also schedule weekday drop-offs.  For a complete listing of what is and is not accepted at the HHM drop-off facility, and for other general recycling information, please refer to Arlington County’s website:  Arlington County's Recycling Programs.

 

o       Computers/Electronics Recycling Program for TVs, CRT monitors, cell phones and more.

o       Household Hazardous Materials Recycling Program for paints, pesticides, chemicals, auto fluids and other hazardous materials.  ECARE Event - bi-annual collection event.

o       Recycling Other Materials such as bikes, building materials, clothing, toner cartridges, and more.

 

Reduce, Reuse, Then Recycle

 

Recycling is not only a great way for individuals to contribute to the Earth’s preservation, but it has economic benefits by employing 1.1 million people and generating $236 billion in annual revenues.  Many other items also may be recycled, such as computers, cell phones, pagers, PDAs, toner cartridges, and bicycles.  Again, please refer to the County’s website for further information on where to take these items for proper disposal.

 

And don’t forget the other two “R”s – Reduce and Reuse!