Single-Stream Recycling

Single-stream recycling graphic

How does it work?

Single-stream recycling at Yale means that all recyclables (paper; metal; glass; plastics 1, 2, 5) can go into the same recycling bin for collection. Items must be clean and empty of any liquids or food. If items are made of more than one type of material (for example, a glass jar with a metal cap) the materials must be separated before going in the bin.

Yale’s recyclables are processed at an offsite material recovery facility in Berlin, Connecticut. There, items are sorted, bundled and sold as commodities to be turned into new products, reducing the need for virgin materials.

What’s Recyclable 

Paper

Recyclable
  • Carbonless forms
  • Cardboard
  • Envelopes with or without windows
  • Glossy paper
  • Magazines, catalogs  
  • Manila folders
  • Newspaper
  • Note cards  
  • Office paper
  • Paperboard
  • Sticky notes
Not recyclable
  • Carbon paper  
  • Coffee cups, paper cups
  • Copy paper wrappers
  • Food service paper
  • Hanging files
  • Paper clips
  • Paper towels
  • Shredded paper (unless going to Infoshred)
  • Tissue paper 

Plastic

Recyclable
  • Plastic #1 (ex. beverage and salad dressing bottles)    
  • Plastic #2 (ex. detergent and milk jugs)
  • Plastic #5 (ex. yogurt containers, syrup bottles)
Not recyclable
  • Bubble wrap  
  • Film plastics
  • Packing peanuts
  • Plastic bags

Glass

Recyclable
  • All colored glass  
  • Glass bottles and jars
Not recyclable
  • Light bulbs
  • Mirrors
  • Plates, ceramics
  • Pyrex glass
  • Window glass

Metal

Recyclable
  • Aluminum cans
  • Clean aluminum foils and trays
  • Metal cans and containers
  • Metal lids (removed from container)
Not recyclable
  • Batteries, e-waste  
  • Pots, pans
  • Scrap metal  
  • Syringes 

My item isn’t listed. Can I recycle it?

Find out using the RecycleCT Wizard app.

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