You might consider yourself a recycling connoisseur with years of experience under your belt, or maybe you have a panic attack trying to decide which compartments to dump your napkin, plate and fork into when you eat at Whole Foods. Either way, you may be surprised to discover the various household items you can recycle — some you may have been throwing away for years.
While you are probably aware of paper, plastic, and cardboard’s recyclability, there are a few unlikely contesters who can in fact be reused. Recycling them is a small way you can positively affect the planet personally, and over time, our collective recycling knowledge can make a significant impact on the environment.
Where Do I Start?
You have two options when it comes to recycling.
If your household receives solid waste collection from the city’s collection contractor, Deffenbaugh Industries, you may pick up a recycling bin available at no cost at one of these locations.
If your household does not receive solid waste collection from Deffenbaugh Industries, you can still drop off recyclables at one of these drop-off sites scattered throughout Omaha. Or if you live in Papillion, you may sign up to receive service from Papillion Sanitation, or maybe you need curbside collection at your home in Council Bluffs instead. Wherever you are, there’s a local waste management team ready to assist you in your recycling endeavor.
Keep in mind that you may not place glass items in your at-home recycling bin to be collected. Instead, glass bottles and jars must be taken to one of the drop-off sites. Keep your glass items separate from your other recyclables if you plan on dropping off your entire collection, as glass is placed in a separate bin.
Household Items That Can Be Recycled:
Paper + Cardboard
Make sure you separate all paper and cardboard items from the rest of your recyclables if you are including them in your recycling bin for collection. Put them in a paper bag or cardboard soda package, and lay it sideways in the bin with the opening facing away from the wind. This keeps them from falling out of the bin and littering the sidewalk.
- Newspapers
- Paper Grocery Bags
- Junk Mail and Cards
- Paperback Books
- Magazines
- Egg Cartons
- Cereal Boxes
- Milk Cartons
- Paper Towel and Toilet Paper Rolls
- Cardboard Boxes
Plastic
As with all recycled items, make sure your plastic pieces are rinsed thoroughly and free of food, household products, or liquids. Plastic bottles, cups, caps, lids, food containers, and packaging bearing the recycle symbol with the following numbers in the center are accepted: 1, 2, 3 and 5.
- Shampoo/Cleaning Product Bottles
- Plastic Tubs
- Plastic Bottles
- Milk Jugs
- CD and DVD Cases
- Disposable (Clean) Plastic Cups and Utensils
- Plastic Bottle Caps
- Plastic Lids
- Old Credit or Debit Cards
- Straws
- Plastic Cereal Box Liners
Steel + Aluminum
You must rinse all aluminum or tin cans before recycling, but the labels may stay on. To save space in your bin, smash cans by removing the lid, place it inside the can, and smash the open end shut.
- Aluminum Soda Cans
- Tin Food Cans
- Outdated License Plates
- Empty Aerosol Cans
- Empty and Dry Paint Cans With Lid Removed
Glass
Glass items can be recycled, but cannot be picked up in your recycling bin. You must drop off all glass objects at any of the drop-off sites in the area. Remove and discard all lids that accompany your glass bottles and jars. Also, make sure the glass object is rinsed thoroughly, but you may keep their labels on.
- Soda Bottles
- Glass Jars
- Vases
Miscellaneous
The following miscellaneous recyclable items cannot be thrown in your recycling bin or dropped off at the recycling drop-off sites in the area. So where can you take them?
- Ink and Toner Cartridges
- Batteries
- Old TVs
- CFL Bulbs
- Computers and Monitors
- Light Bulbs
- Cell Phones
Where to Recycle Miscellaneous Items in Omaha:
Items Accepted: #2 plastic bags, #4 plastic bags, cell phones, CFLs (not broken bulbs), lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries and plastic plant materials
Locations:
- 18375 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68130
- 3333 North 147th Street, Omaha, NE 68116
- 7525 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114
- 8707 South 71st Plaza, Papillion, NE 68133
Items Accepted: A detailed list can be found here.
Locations:
- North 170th Street, Omaha, NE 68118
- 115 North 76th Street, Omaha, NE 68114
- 7949 Towne Center Parkway, Papillion, NE 68046
- 3115 Manawa Center Drive, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Items Accepted: Car batteries, lead-acid batteries (non-automotive), lithium-ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, cell phones and CFLs
Locations: