Acceptable Items?

Acceptable Items

There are many hard-to-recycle plastics that currently do not belong in the Blue Box program but can be collected as part of the pilot project.

The list of acceptable items below are what we want you to place in the Hefty® orange bag.

Items must be empty, clean and dry.

If the item is not on this list, please do not place it in the Hefty® orange bag as it reduces the value of the materials that we want in the bag. If in doubt, leave it out! and put it in a garbage bag.

• Candy wrappers
• Condiment packets
• Foam take-out food containers
• Foam cups, plates, bowls
• Food bags
• Frozen food bags
• Plastic overwrap (like that found on cases of pop, toilet paper or paper towel)
• Food storage and sandwich bags
• Granola bar and energy bar wrappers
• Hot dog and sausage packaging
• Juice pouches
• Microwavable plastic pouches
• Packing foam peanuts
• Plastic cheese bags
• Plastic cups, plates, bowls
• Plastic deli meat & cheese packaging
• Plastic drink rings
• Plastic milk bags - inner and outer
• Plastic liners from food boxes
• Plastic meat packaging wrap
• Plastic and foam meat trays
• Plastic pet food bags
• Plastic produce bags
• Plastic straws & stirrers
• Plastic toothpaste tubes
• Plastic utensils
• Potato chip bags
• Salad bags
• Snack bags
• Squeezable pouches
• Stand-up pouches

NOTE: If this list changes and more materials are added, we will notify you via email. Please ensure you supply your email by visiting the Stay Connected tab.

Unacceptable Items

Any item that is not on the acceptable Item list above must not go in the bag.

Here are a few examples of what NOT to put in the Hefty® orange bags:

• Aluminum, steel or metal
• Coffee pods
• Food and other packaging contents
• Glass
• Household Hazardous waste
• Hoses, tubes or rope
• Liquids of any kind
• Medical products (even if plastic)
• Paper or paper products
• Plastic grocery bags should be returned to grocery stores with collection bins
• Plastic containers that belong in the Blue Box program (marked #1 through #7)
• Plastic toys
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC #3 plastic – like vinyl siding, pipes, appliance housings, etc.)
• Rubber/tires

To ensure that the contents of the Hefty® EnergyBag® can be put to a higher value end-use depends on participants only adding plastic items from the list of acceptable items. Remember. . . If in doubt, leave it out! and put it in a garbage bag.