Recycling is sorting like materials so they can then be made into new items.  There are ways to recycle and reuse many materials you might consider trash but these items must be kept separate to be recycled properly.

How do I sort trash & recycling properly?

When disposing an item, take a look at what is made of (metal, plastic, etc.) to see if it might be accepted in one of our recycling programs below. We would hate to put a good recyclable item in trash that goes directly to the landfill, and will never be made into new products.

See what we can recycle in Rhode Island?  

RECYCLING in Your Curbside Bin/Cart

Recycling in RI is easy and in the municipal curbside program. What items belong in your bin or cart is the same all throughout the state.

Some communities use a large wheeled cart, while some use the smaller curbside bins. No matter what container your community uses, these are the correct items accepted in our state RecycleTogetherRI program, and belong in your recycle container.

Click above to see what we recycle in our state curbside program.

Some Items Never Belong in Your Recycling

Click above to make sure you are Recycling Right in RI

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Not sure if something should be recycled or not?

Click above for the A-Z Guide where over 5,000 items are listed with proper disposal method.

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RECYCLING Beyond the Curbside Bin/Cart

There are ways to recycle so many more items, BEYOND what belongs in the curbside program.

1. Drop off at RI Resource Recovery (65 Shun Pike, Johnston, RI)

RIRRC has a Small Vehicle Area (SVA) which let Rhode Islanders recycle and properly dispose many more items beyond what is collected in their curbside collections.

• Appliances (“White Goods”)
• Antifreeze
• Batteries
• Books and Media
• Bulky Rigid Plastics
• Cardboard (Oversized)
• Concrete/Asphalt/Brick/Rock
• Construction & Demolition (C&D) Debris
• Cooking Oil
• Electronic Waste (e-waste)
• Mixed Recycling (MRF)
• Motor Oil and Filters
• Scrap Metal
• Shredded Paper
• Solid Waste (trash) – individual residents pay commercial “gate rate”
• Textiles
• Tires

Watch RIRRC Video about their SVA

Please note: RIRRC only takes specific items within these categories, and some carry a fee. The individual residents pay commercial fees (not municipal). More details here

RECYCLING TVs

Free drop off for RI residents is still available for TVs, monitors & computers (CPUs, laptops & tablets) at RIRRC 65 Shun Pike in Johnston RI.

RIRRC TV & Monitor Program

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2. Drop off at community locations & one day events

RECYCLING Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Events

RIRRC hosts a variety of Eco-Depot (HHW) collections throughout the year.  See what items should always be disposed at an Eco-Depot event, and where the next events are located.

Household Hazardous Waste Items

2023 Eco-Depot Events

RECYCLING Plastic Bags & Film

Plastic bags and film NEVER belong in the curbside recycle bin, but can be recycled by bringing back to local retail stores and placing in the blue ReSTORE containers.

ReSTORE Plastic Bag Program

RECYCLING Fluorescent Light Bulbs

CFL’s are always accepted at our statewide Eco-Depot collections, but residents can also bring the small light bulb size, no tubes, to Lowe’s & Home Depot for drop off by customer service counter.

 

RECYCLING Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

Indie Cycle hosts many e-waste recycling events all RI residents are welcome to attend.

Click below for a link to their website where you can view the schedule of events.  This is a great option and keeps all this waste out of our landfill.

Indie Cycle Events

RECYCLING Textiles

Recycling clothing and textiles is easy, just make sure all your textile are dry and in a plastic bag. Drop off in Kiducation or Goodwill boxes in many locations in our communities.

Learn about Textile Recycling & Locations

RECYCLING Paint

RI has a great PaintCare program to recycle both latex & oil-based paints. Some local paint retailers now allow drop off of accepted paints during their normal business hours.

PaintCare sites, accept house paint and primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings (e.g., shellac and varnish) but they do not accept aerosols (spray cans), solvents, and products intended for industrial or non-architectural use.

PaintCare Info & Drop-off Sites

RECYCLING Mattresses & Box Springs

Mattresses & box springs can be easily recycled, if they are kept dry.  Click below for more details on this program.

How to Recycle a Mattress