Recycling

Complimentary curbside recycling for plastics and metals

The following recyclable items are collected curbside. Those wishing to recycle paper, metals and plastics should adhere to the following guidelines using two (or a maximum of four) City-issued recycling bins, which should be put out at the curb by 7am on your collection day. Failure to separate metals and plastics from paper may result in contents of the bins being placed in the trash, as will the presence of glass in either bin. Please only use green bins for recyclables and place all recyclables in the bins. Free recycling bins (4 max) are available by calling the Public Works Department at 813.506.6570. 

FIRST GREEN BIN (These items may be co-mingled):

Metals, including:

  • Aluminum Cans
  • Drink cans. (No foil pie pans, food containers, etc.)
  • Steel / Tin Cans
  • Food cans. (No paint cans, oil cans, etc. Remove and discard lids and rinse all containers. Labels do not have to be removed.)

Plastics, including:

  • Household plastic bottles or containers, i.e. soda, milk, soap 
  • Rinsed out oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and windshield washer bottles

No bubble wrap, plastic bags, Styrofoam or other types of plastic containers

SECOND GREEN BIN (These items may be co-mingled):

Mixed Paper, including:

  • Junk mailpaper recycling in a bin
  • Envelopes
  • Newspapers
  • Office/school papers
  • Phone books
  • Magazines
  • Computer paper
  • Cereal boxes (without food wrapper) 

No paper from restrooms or kitchens, i.e. tissue, wax paper, toilet tissue, paper towels, food wrappers or carriers, including pizza boxes.

Cardboard

  • Corrugated boxes. Flatten and cut into sections of three feet by three feet or less and place in your recycling bin.
  • Cartons
  • Coated paper cartons from milk, juice, broth, etc.

no glass recycling
The City is not recycling glass at this time. Place glass in with other trash, NOT in the recycling bins. Residents should place glass items into their regular garbage, which is taken to a Waste-to-Energy plant for incineration. The resulting aggregate will then be recycled.

Do NOT recycle such items as clothing, shoes, electronics, light bulbs, batteries or hazardous household waste. See links on the left for information on Hazardous Waste Disposal, which is managed by Hillsborough County. 

A good rule of thumb regarding recyclables: if you don't know - it doesn't go.

*Do NOT recycle such items as clothing, shoes, electronics, light bulbs, batteries or hazardous household waste. See links on the left for information on Hazardous Waste Disposal, which is managed by Hillsborough County. 

Recycling FAQ

Why has glass recycling been discontinued?  There are many reasons behind the decision to discontinue the collection of glass for recycling. These include: 

  • Glass is becoming a contaminant – In a single-stream recycling system, glass is increasingly becoming a contaminant. Broken glass can contaminate other recyclables like paper and cardboard, lowering their value. Recyclers are increasingly focused on quality and reducing contamination to maintain the value of their recyclable materials.
  • Glass can be hazardous – Broken glass is not only a safety hazard to workers. Glass is difficult to sort when broken, and if broken down too finely, glass may become too difficult to reprocess. When recyclers find it too difficult or expensive to separate out glass, they send the entire stream to the landfill.  
  • The market for glass has changed – Mandatory glass recycling programs in the 1980s flooded the market with recyclable glass, causing prices to drop. Over the past two decades, glass has also been replaced by aluminum and plastic for some products, leading to a diminishing market for the material. 

Need more information? Call 813.506.6570.