Materials We Accept
Accepted Materials
EVERY MONTH
Clean and dry stretchy plastic film of any color. Recycling types 2 (HDPE) and 4 (LDPE), if labeled:
- Grocery bags
- Amazon and other plastic film mailers
- Bubble wrap
- Product and case wrap
- Ziploc and sandwich bags – must be free of food residue
- Air pillows – must be flattened
- Bread bags
- Dry cleaning bags
- Produce bags
Tip: Try stretching it gently or mash it in your hand. If it stretches like a grocery bag, use this bag. If it sounds loud and crinkly when mashed, don’t.
Materials NOT Accepted
- If the material rips or tears instead of stretches
- Mixed-material items (e.g., paper mailers with bubble wrap inside)
- Foil-lined bubble wrap
- Biodegradable bags
- Foil-lined bags like snacks, candy bars, or granola bars wrappers and bags
Where does it go?
Orange Recycling Services compresses the plastic film into densified bales. These bales are then delivered to The TREX Company where they’re turned into composite deck boards or sent to other end users to be used for other materials.
Why recycle it?
Plastic bags are manufactured from petroleum and end up as waste in landfills and the ocean. These bags should never be put in with mixed recycling as they can cause equipment malfunctions at the recycling center.
Can I recycle this on my own?
Yes! Local grocery stores have drop off bins for clean, dry, plastic film.
Accepted Materials
EVERY MONTH – STARTING JUNE 2026. LEARN MORE
Clean and dry crinkly plastic packaging of any color. These materials are usually thicker, loud when mashed, and do not stretch like grocery bags or bread bags.
- Chip bags
- Candy wrappers
- Granola bar and energy bar wrappers
- Coffee bags
- Frozen food bags
- Salad bags
- Pasta bags
- Cheese packaging
- Crinkly resealable food bags
- Food and drink pouches
- Woven plastic bags
- Produce netting
- Clean takeout utensils
- Plastic drinking straws
Tip: Try mashing it in your hand. If it sounds loud and crinkly and does not stretch, use this bag. If it stretches like a grocery bag, bread bag, or Ziploc-style storage bag, use the Plastic Film bag instead.
Materials NOT Accepted
- Stretchy plastic film, such as grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, or plastic film mailers
- Items with paper liners
- Items that contain cardboard
- Items with mixed materials other than plastic, such as metal or paper
- Compostable or biodegradable packaging
- Dirty or wet items
Where does it go?
Crinkly Packaging is sorted and consolidated at The ReCollective warehouse. We remove anything that does not belong, compact the material, and send it to ByFusion, where it is transformed into durable construction blocks.
Why recycle it?
Crinkly Packaging is one of the hardest everyday materials to recycle because it is often made from multiple layers of plastic fused together. Most curbside programs do not accept it, so it usually ends up in the landfill. Collecting it separately allows us to send it to a specialized partner that can responsibly process it.
Can I recycle this on my own?
In most cases, no. Crinkly Packaging is generally not accepted in curbside recycling or store drop-off plastic film bins. The ReCollective collects it separately so it can be sorted, consolidated, and sent to a partner equipped to handle this material.
Accepted Materials
EVERY MONTH
Clean and dry textiles in any condition, including:
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Towels
- Sheets
- Purses
Materials NOT Accepted
Textiles that are:
- Wet
- Hazardous or contaminated
- Mildewed and moldy
- Pillows
Where does it go?
Clothing and textiles that are in good shape are donated to community organizations for reuse locally. For items that are not appropriate for reuse, we partner with Green Zone to recycle the textile fibers into new products.
Why recycle it?
Textile waste occupies nearly 5% of all landfill space and only 15% gets recycled.
Can I recycle this on my own?
Yes! Community organizations such as Good Will and the Durham Rescue Mission will accept clothing in good, reusable condition. Durham Solid Waste Management has a textile recycling drop off option as well.
Accepted Materials
EVERY MONTH
Only clean rigid block Styrofoam (EPS), recycling type 6
- Packaging blocks and sheets
- Coolers
Materials NOT Accepted
- Styrofoam takeout containers
- Styrofoam cups
- Styrofoam egg containers
- Packing peanuts
- Soft/flexible foam
Where does it go?
Our partner Orange Recycling Services densifies the Styrofoam. Densified blocks are then shipped to end market manufacturers to make things like plastic components, picture frames and building materials.
Why recycle it?
Styrofoam (EPS) is manufactured from petroleum, and like other plastic products, it is not easily biodegradable. EPS is also comprised of more than 90% air and fills up landfills and contaminates ecosystems.
Can I recycle this on my own?
DART Corporation in Randleman, NC will accept consumer styrofoam.
Accepted Materials
Household batteries
January, February, April, May, July, August, October, November
- Alkaline
- Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)
- Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
- Lithium-Ion
- Button Cells
- Rechargeable
- Small electronics batteries
IMPORTANT: please put tape on the terminals of any 9v or greater voltage battery as well as lithium and larger size batteries.
Household Light Bulbs
March, June, September, December
- Incandescent
- CFL
- LED
- Halogen
*Note, 2 or 4 foot fluorescent tubes incur extra fee*
Materials NOT Accepted
- Car batteries
- Lead-acid batteries
- Swollen or bulging batteries
- Broken bulbs
Where does it go?
We partner with Batteries Plus. Batteries & bulbs are sent to facilities where metals and chemicals are recycled, and harmful materials are properly disposed of.
Why recycle it?
Recycling batteries helps keep toxic metals out of landfills and helps prevent ground water contamination.
Mercury containing light bulbs like CFLs can seep into groundwater. Phosphor, which is present in fluorescent bulbs and tubes, is toxic. Light bulbs contain valuable metals, glass and other materials that can be separated and recycled into new products.
Can I recycle this on my own?
Lowes and Batteries Plus have consumer drop off options.
Accepted Materials
Changes Monthly! 20+ materials each year. THIS MONTH’S RECO PICK & CALENDAR
You’ll receive an email each month indicating what you can put in your ReCo Pick bag that month. Some examples of ReCo Picks are:
- Small Electronics
- Kitchenware
- Wine Corks
- Art & Office Supplies
- Bottle Caps
- Eyeglasses
- Yard Signs
- Toys
- Tote Bags
- Scrap Metal
- Books
- CDs/DVDs
- Plant Pots
- Household Tools
- Mixed Mailers
ReCo Picks
Changes Monthly! 20+ materials each year. CHECK THE RECO PICK CALENDAR
Where does it go?
We partner with various local community organizations to either reuse or recycle these materials.
ReCo One Stop and Add-on Services
Learn about ReCollective OneStop.
Add Food Scrap pickup to your Hard-To-Recycle plan (available in parts of the Triangle).
Accepted Materials
Food Scraps & Organics
- Fruit & vegetable scraps
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
- Loose-leaf tea
- Baked goods & bread
- Nuts & shells
- Seeds & pits
- Tofu
- Meats
- Dairy Items
- Coffee filters & tea bags
- Paper towels, napkins, and bags
- Flowers & house plant trimmings
- Pizza boxes
- Cotton fabric
- Anything that grows 🙂
Add-on Collection Services
Fluorescent Tubes
- $4 per tube (4 foot or less)
- Not accepted: broken tubes
Where does it go?
Batteries Plus partners with facilities that recycle the metal and glass materials from the bulbs.
Why Recycle it?
Phosphor, which is present in fluorescent tubes, is toxic. Light bulbs contain valuable metals, glass, and other materials that can be separated and recycled into new products.
Printers & Monitors
- $15 each
- Not accepted: monitors greater than 24″. Tube CRT monitors. Office-type printers/copiers.
Where does it go?
Triangle Ecycling recycles your printers and monitors.
Why Recycle it?
Recycling electronics plays a vital role in reducing electronic waste, which contains harmful chemicals that can contaminate soil and water if not handled correctly. Additionally, it conserves precious resources, as recycled components from old devices can be used to manufacture new products, thereby decreasing the environmental impact of mining and production.
Clamshells (Recycling Symbol #1)
- $4 to 5 per provided Blue Bag
- ReCo recycles clamshells made of polyethylene terephthalate, abbreviated as PET or PETE. LEARN MORE.
- These include containers for berries, other vegetables, salads, herbs, some deli items, and some egg cartons.
- Some municipalities in our service area offer curbside recycling for clamshells. Please review your local recycling guidelines before deciding if you need ReCo’s clamshell service.
Where does it go?
Clamshells will primarily be recycled. We occasionally have opportunities to distribute clamshells to produce growers at local markets, but given the volume of clamshells, most will be recycled.
The ReCollective partners with Orange Recycling Services for clamshells. ORS is a commercial recycling company, locally owned and operated for over 34 years in Durham, and serves the entire Triangle.
Why Recycle it?
#1 PETE should be recycled because it helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserves natural resources, such as petroleum, used in its production. Additionally, recycling PETE supports the circular economy by turning used containers into new products, thereby extending the material’s lifecycle and reducing environmental impact.
#5 Plastics
- $4 to 5 per provided Green Bag
- ReCo recycles #5 plastics, which include containers and lids such as yogurt and butter tubs, takeout containers, disposable cups, and empty pill bottles. LEARN MORE.
- Some municipalities in our service area recycle #5 plastics curbside. Please review your local recycling guidelines before deciding if you need ReCo’s #5 service.
Where does it go?
The ReCollective partners with Orange Recycling Services for #5 plastics. ORS is a commercial recycling company, locally owned and operated for over 34 years in Durham, and serves the entire Triangle.
Why Recycle it?
Recycling #5 plastics, or polypropylene, reduces waste in landfills and conserves natural resources. It also cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions by requiring less energy to produce new products from recycled materials. Additionally, it supports job creation and meets consumer demand for sustainable products.
Crinkly Packaging
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$6 per provided Pink Bag
-
ReCollective recycles crinkly food packaging made from layered plastics that can’t be handled in curbside programs.
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This includes items like chip bags, candy and granola bar wrappers, coffee bags, frozen food bags, salad bags, pouches, produce bags, and similar non-stretchy crinkly packaging. Learn more
-
All items must be clean and completely dry, and please remove any metal clips or ties.
-
Stretchy plastic film such as grocery bags and bread bags should still be placed in your Plastic Film bag
Where does it go?
Crinkly food packaging collected through this service is sorted and consolidated by our team, then sent to ByFusion, where it is transformed into durable construction-grade blocks that can replace traditional concrete.
Why Recycle it?
Crinkly food packaging is one of the most common landfill-bound materials because it is made from multiple fused layers that curbside recycling systems cannot process. Recycling through this stream keeps valuable material out of landfills, reduces pollution, and supports innovative reuse solutions.
Latex Paint
- $5 per gallon
- Not accepted: oil-based paints and aerosols
Where does it go?
MXI Environmental Services turns old paint into new paint products.
Why Recycle it?
Recycling your paint ensures that compounds like VOCs are disposed of safely and don’t enter local ecosystems and ground water.
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Email Support: Help@TheReCollective.co
Text Support: (919) 336-1765
Durham, NC 27701