Trash and Recycling Collection
EMPTY. CLEAN. DRY. THE NEW WAY TO RECYCLE
Sometimes it may be difficult to determine what can and cannot be recycled. Trying to recycle unclean or non-recyclable material increases the cost to the municipality, and requires entire loads of recyclables to be placed in our landfills. Please make sure that your recyclables are empty, clean and dry before placing them in your recycling container.
The links below provides additional information on products that can and cannot be recycled.
When in doubt, throw it out!
Camden County Recycling
Recycling Flier 2020
Recycling FAQs
The fact is the “rules” for recycling have not changed significantly. The end market specifications for recycled materials have tightened so non-recyclable items in your curbside container have become a bigger problem for facilities that separate and process what you place in that container. The fact is that these non-recyclable items were never supposed to be placed in your recycling container. For this reason, the County and its municipalities have stepped up their education efforts to keep these items out of the recycling stream.
Category: Recycling
This is the most significant change to what we now recycle. The recycling of these particular plastic containers was largely dependent on markets outside the USA. However, in 2018, China, who received most of these plastics implemented a policy known as the National Sword. This resulted in greater restrictions on importation of recyclables of any kind. Markets for #4, #5, and #7 plastics are now almost non-existent. As a result, these items are in many cases leaving the recycling facility as trash and being landfilled. Additionally, these plastics tend to contribute to more food waste contamination in the “Single Stream” mix, resulting in a poorer quality of cardboard and paper being marketed for recycling. We are therefore asking residents to place these containers in their trash receptacle. It should be noted that this change is being implemented not just here in Camden County, but in counties State-wide.
The good news is, there are still strong domestic markets for plastics #1 (soda bottles, water bottles, etc.) and #2 (milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, etc.,) which make up most plastic containers in the waste stream.
Category: Recycling
Because end markets for recyclables have tightened their standards for the recyclables they purchase, the presence of moisture from food and liquid waste in containers has become a greater issue. For this reason, residents are being asked to empty and rinse containers fully before placing them in the curbside recycling container.
Category: Recycling
The following items should be placed in your curbside recycling container
- Newspaper
- Mixed paper including junk mail
- Magazines
- Catalogs
- School and office papers
- Paper packaging
- Paperboard cartons for foods such as cereal boxes, pasta boxes and tissue boxes, etc…
- Softcover books
- Phone books
- Cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum and steel cans and lids
- Plastic bottles and jars with #1 or #2 found on the bottom
- Milk and juice cartons
- Paper towel and toilet paper inserts.
Category: Recycling
Plastic food take-out containers are no longer recyclable due to changes in foreign plastic recycling markets. They should be placed in your regular trash. Only plastic bottles and jars which display, #1 or #2 inside chasing arrows on the bottom, of the container are recyclable in your curbside recycling container. (show graphic of chasing arrows)
Category: Recycling
Contact your municipal public works department for scrap metal recycling options or log on to Recycle Coach and follow the prompts for recycling options
Category: Recycling
YES – If you want to recycle your confidential documents, you can bring them to a local or County sponsored shredding event. These events feature shredding trucks that shred the paper on site. The shredded paper generated is then recycled at a facility specifically equipped to handle shredded paper for recycling.
Category: Recycling
One trick for emptying/cleaning these containers is to fill the mostly empty container with warm water, replace the lid and let soak overnight. In the morning, empty half the water and secure the lid. Shaking the container with the remaining water inside should loosen any food residue inside the container. Empty and rinse the container one final time. It should now be completely empty and ready for your recycling container.
Category: Recycling
NO – Unfortunately, shredded paper cannot be recycled at the curb as this material cannot be processed properly since the recycling facility’s equipment is not designed to handle shredded paper. It therefore poses sorting issues when mixed with other commodities. Please place all shredded paper into your regular trash receptacle.
Category: Recycling
NO – Most of these containers contained hazardous chemicals and should be emptied prior to placing them in your regular trash receptacle. Note however that there are a few exceptions to this rule such as, windshield washer fluid and grass seed containers etc… These can be placed in your curbside recycling container.
Category: Recycling
NO, NO, NO – You cannot recycle any type of plastic bags in your residential curbside container. Plastic bags are a contaminant in Single Stream residential recycling and are considered the most problematic contaminant found in the curbside recycling mix. Plastic bags interfere with the mechanical recycling process by causing, slow-downs, stoppages and potential damage to recycling processing equipment at the recycling processing facility. Plastic bags should never be placed in your recycling container.
Category: Recycling
Yes – Paper packaging can be recycled with two exceptions: no foil covered packaging and no plastic/ wax coated paper packaging should be recycled.
- A good rule to follow is if the products paper packaging was purchased off a shelf at the store, it can be recycled in your curbside recycling container. If the products paper packaging came out of the freezer at the store it cannot be recycled and should be placed in your trash receptacle.
Category: Recycling
NO – Due to the many varying types of hazardous and non-hazardous liquids that are found in aerosol cans, we recommend placing empty aerosol cans in your trash receptacle. Aerosol cans that contain unwanted hazardous liquids should be taken to a County Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event. Click here for dates and times.
Category: RecyclingLoad More
The fact is the “rules” for recycling have not changed significantly. The end market specifications for recycled materials have tightened so non-recyclable items in your curbside container have become a bigger problem for facilities that separate and process what you place in that container. The fact is that these non-recyclable items were never supposed to be placed in your recycling container. For this reason, the County and its municipalities have stepped up their education efforts to keep these items out of the recycling stream.
This is the most significant change to what we now recycle. The recycling of these particular plastic containers was largely dependent on markets outside the USA. However, in 2018, China, who received most of these plastics implemented a policy known as the National Sword. This resulted in greater restrictions on importation of recyclables of any kind. Markets for #4, #5, and #7 plastics are now almost non-existent. As a result, these items are in many cases leaving the recycling facility as trash and being landfilled. Additionally, these plastics tend to contribute to more food waste contamination in the “Single Stream” mix, resulting in a poorer quality of cardboard and paper being marketed for recycling. We are therefore asking residents to place these containers in their trash receptacle. It should be noted that this change is being implemented not just here in Camden County, but in counties State-wide.
The good news is, there are still strong domestic markets for plastics #1 (soda bottles, water bottles, etc.) and #2 (milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, etc.,) which make up most plastic containers in the waste stream.
Because end markets for recyclables have tightened their standards for the recyclables they purchase, the presence of moisture from food and liquid waste in containers has become a greater issue. For this reason, residents are being asked to empty and rinse containers fully before placing them in the curbside recycling container.
The following items should be placed in your curbside recycling container
- Newspaper
- Mixed paper including junk mail
- Magazines
- Catalogs
- School and office papers
- Paper packaging
- Paperboard cartons for foods such as cereal boxes, pasta boxes and tissue boxes, etc…
- Softcover books
- Phone books
- Cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum and steel cans and lids
- Plastic bottles and jars with #1 or #2 found on the bottom
- Milk and juice cartons
- Paper towel and toilet paper inserts.
Plastic food take-out containers are no longer recyclable due to changes in foreign plastic recycling markets. They should be placed in your regular trash. Only plastic bottles and jars which display, #1 or #2 inside chasing arrows on the bottom, of the container are recyclable in your curbside recycling container. (show graphic of chasing arrows)
Contact your municipal public works department for scrap metal recycling options or log on to Recycle Coach and follow the prompts for recycling options
YES – If you want to recycle your confidential documents, you can bring them to a local or County sponsored shredding event. These events feature shredding trucks that shred the paper on site. The shredded paper generated is then recycled at a facility specifically equipped to handle shredded paper for recycling.
One trick for emptying/cleaning these containers is to fill the mostly empty container with warm water, replace the lid and let soak overnight. In the morning, empty half the water and secure the lid. Shaking the container with the remaining water inside should loosen any food residue inside the container. Empty and rinse the container one final time. It should now be completely empty and ready for your recycling container.
NO – Unfortunately, shredded paper cannot be recycled at the curb as this material cannot be processed properly since the recycling facility’s equipment is not designed to handle shredded paper. It therefore poses sorting issues when mixed with other commodities. Please place all shredded paper into your regular trash receptacle.
NO – Most of these containers contained hazardous chemicals and should be emptied prior to placing them in your regular trash receptacle. Note however that there are a few exceptions to this rule such as, windshield washer fluid and grass seed containers etc… These can be placed in your curbside recycling container.
NO, NO, NO – You cannot recycle any type of plastic bags in your residential curbside container. Plastic bags are a contaminant in Single Stream residential recycling and are considered the most problematic contaminant found in the curbside recycling mix. Plastic bags interfere with the mechanical recycling process by causing, slow-downs, stoppages and potential damage to recycling processing equipment at the recycling processing facility. Plastic bags should never be placed in your recycling container.
Yes – Paper packaging can be recycled with two exceptions: no foil covered packaging and no plastic/ wax coated paper packaging should be recycled.
- A good rule to follow is if the products paper packaging was purchased off a shelf at the store, it can be recycled in your curbside recycling container. If the products paper packaging came out of the freezer at the store it cannot be recycled and should be placed in your trash receptacle.
NO – Due to the many varying types of hazardous and non-hazardous liquids that are found in aerosol cans, we recommend placing empty aerosol cans in your trash receptacle. Aerosol cans that contain unwanted hazardous liquids should be taken to a County Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event. Click here for dates and times.
Load More
PLEASE REFER TO THE MAP ABOVE FOR RECYCLING PICKUP DATES
The Borough utilizes single stream recycling. All cardboard, cans, glass, plastic and paper may be placed in the same container. Recyclables are collected every other week throughout the town. The borough public works department will collect other recycling materials such as tires, concrete, bricks, stumps and used motor oil. For electronics (anything with a cord or battery) we ask you to call to schedule a Wednesday pick up (do not place the items at the curb). If you have any questions please feel free to contact the borough garage (856) 784-0495.