Recycling Rules, Costs and Best Practices

REUSE AREA (subject to applicable disposal fee):

Occasionally, Town residents may have a gently used item that may be useful for someone else. We highly encourage residents to take such items to charitable organizations such as Goodwill, Agrace Thrift Store, Salvation Army, or St. Vincent DePaul since there may be tax benefits in making such donations. If this is not possible, we have a Reuse Area for such items to help prevent them from being landfilled. Please check with an attendant before placing an item in this area to see if it has a reasonable expectation of being reused. Any item placed in the Reuse Area is still subject to any applicable disposal fees since we find many of these items are not reused and are ultimately put into a trash bin. We do NOT accept used bedding, upholstered furniture or cloth items in this unsheltered Reuse Area. Fully functional appliances should also NOT be placed in the Reuse Area. Items left in this area are NOT eligible for tax deductions and no receipts will be given.

RECYCLABLE ITEMS accepted at NO CHARGE:

In an effort to encourage responsible recycling, the Town of Brooklyn collects the recyclable materials listed below at no cost to residents. All recyclables, regardless of material type, are collected in bins that are labeled “Recyclables Only”. Our recycler, Pellitteri, uses their personnel and equipment to sort material types at their plant. All items should be loose and empty. Do not place smaller items inside of larger ones.

Paper & Cardboard: This includes newspaper, catalogs, magazines, paperback books, hard cover books (if hard cover removed), phone books, computer and office paper, envelopes and junk mail, paper grocery bags, note books, gift wrapping paper (no foils), pizza boxes (if no food or grease), rinsed milk or juice cartons, paper cups, and cereal and cracker type boxes.

• Boxes should be flattened to save space.
• Do not bundle paper with twine or tape as this causes problems with the recycling equipment.
• Shredded paper is to be placed in a clear plastic bag (no larger than a basketball) and tied shut.
• Paper shipping envelopes (that you receive items in) can be checked for recyclability by tearing them. If they can be torn they are recyclable. If they are lined with bubble wrap or plastic, trash them

Cans: Includes rinsed tin/steel cans, and empty aerosol cans. Cans or steel pails containing liquid paint or other liquid products will not be accepted.

• Cans or pails containing latex paint are to be dried out, and then placed in the trash bin.
• For disposal of cans containing oil or lead based paints in liquid form, see the guidance under “Items not accepted” below.
• It is best not to completely flatten cans as recycling equipment can pick round cans up easier.
• A best practice for can lids would be to place them inside the can, and then crimp the end of the can.
• Metal bottle caps should also be placed in a metal can.
• Aluminum cans are recycled separately using labeled containers next to the recycle bins. We do this because there is more overall value by bringing them to a scrap dealer for compensation. If you know a can is made of aluminum, we appreciate your assistance in placing these in the separate container provided.

Glass: This includes bottles and jars.

• Bottles and jars should be emptied and rinsed.
• Jar lids should be separated from the jar, but still included in recycle. Metal lids and metal bottle caps should be put inside steel/tin cans, and then crimp the end of the can.
• Incandescent bulbs are to be disposed of in your regular trash.  All other bulb types must be given to an attendant to be recycled as they contain hazardous materials or heavy metals.
• Ceramics, glassware, baking dishes, mirrors and window glass from construction or vehicles are NOT recyclable and need to be placed in the trash bins.

Plastics: Empty and rinsed containers having a recycle emblem with a number from 1-7 are recyclable.  Lids are to be kept on plastic tubs.  If possible, plastic bottles are to be crushed, and keeping the caps on is a best practice.

EXCEPTIONS:

• Motor oil, gas, chemical or solvent containers.
• Items the size of 5-gallon buckets or larger are not recyclable due to equipment capability at our recycler.
• Plastic lids used on drink cups are to be placed in the trash as they are too flat and small to be sorted by our recycler's equipment.

Plastic bags are to be treated as trash.  Most retailers and grocers have recycling bins for plastic bags near their entrances or exits.  Hy-Vee, Festival Foods and Pic-n-Save accept the largest variety of recyclable plastics.  Here's a link to what can be put in their bins: https://nextrex.com/view/educate

OTHER recyclable items collected separately by our attendants at NO CHARGE:

Aluminum: As mentioned above, the Town of Brooklyn asks you to voluntarily place aluminum cans in a separate container provided near our recycling bins as it provides more overall value by bringing them to a scrap dealer.

• We will accept aluminum pie plates and foil in recycle bins only if free of food.
• If you have large aluminum items, such as bike frames or motor components, check with an attendant to see if we can include them in our aluminum program.

Light bulbs: This includes incandescent, fluorescent, LED, compact fluorescent and other light bulbs.

• Incandescent bulbs are to be disposed of in your regular trash.
• All other bulb types must be given to an attendant to be recycled as they contain hazardous materials or heavy metals.

Scrap Metal: Anything that is primarily made of metal is to be placed in the large dumpster labeled "Metals" that is located in the Northeast corner of our complex.  For large or heavy items, ask an attendant for assistance.

Exceptions:  Water softeners are to be treated as trash.  Gas/Propane/Oil/Fuel tanks must be drained, valves removed and depressurized.

Batteries: Alkaline batteries do not contain hazardous materials and have little value for recycling.  Spent alkaline batteries should be put in your trash.  A collection barrel for all other types of batteries is located outside of the Recycling Center building at the Southeast corner.

• Lithium batteries pose a fire hazard so residents must apply clear tape to the contact points.  Sandwiching flat button-type batteries between two strips of tape works best.
• Lead, wet cell and vehicle batteries are accepted by attendants, but can also be taken to retailers of such products.  Electrical tape should be put on the posts of car batteries in order to prevent accidental discharge.

Used Oil Filters:  Do-it-yourselfers can bring their uncrushed used oil filters to our attendants who will store these in steel barrels for delivery to our recycler.

Antifreeze: Contact an attendant who will guide you where to place the product

Egg Cartons: Being a rural community, we have a unique demand for clean egg cartons which are reused by local growers. See an attendant to either drop off or pick up egg cartons.