Municipal recycling programs are operated by city and county governments to divert reusable materials from landfills, conserve natural resources, and reduce the environmental footprint of residential and commercial waste. These programs are typically administered by public works or solid waste departments and include curbside collection, drop-off facilities, and special collection events throughout the year.

There are 52 states with Recycling locations across the United States. The EPA estimates that Americans recycle and compost over 90 million tons of material annually, diverting significant waste from landfills and generating economic value through recovered materials.

Recycling in the United States

Browsing by state helps residents locate their local recycling drop-off centers, find accepted materials lists for curbside programs, and discover special collection events for electronics, hazardous household waste, and bulk items that cannot be placed in standard recycling bins.

Common Services

  • Curbside recycling collection of paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and plastics
  • Drop-off recycling centers accepting a wider range of materials than curbside programs
  • Hazardous household waste collection events for batteries, paint, pesticides, and medications
  • Electronics and appliance recycling programs and collection events

Before placing items in your recycling bin, always check your local program's accepted materials list, as contamination with non-accepted materials can cause entire loads to be rejected and landfilled. Many programs now publish materials guides on their websites or apps to help residents recycle correctly.

For official information, visit EPA Recycling Resources.

Recycling by State
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About Recycling

Municipal recycling programs are funded through solid waste management budgets, tipping fees, and revenue from selling recovered materials to commodities markets. Many programs are administered in partnership with private waste haulers under municipal contracts, while others are fully government-operated through public works or sanitation departments.

Common Services

  • Yard waste and composting collection programs for grass clippings and leaves
  • Bulk item and large appliance collection on scheduled pickup days
  • Community education and outreach programs on proper recycling practices
  • Business and commercial recycling assistance and container programs

Residents can improve the effectiveness of their local recycling program by rinsing containers before recycling, flattening cardboard boxes, and avoiding wishful recycling of items not on the accepted materials list. Contaminated loads are costly to sort and often result in materials being landfilled despite being recyclable in other forms.

For official information, visit EPA Recycling Resources.