Recycling in Seneca County

THANK YOU for recycling! 

Your efforts are helping to make Seneca County a better place to live.

As part of Seneca County’s Recycling Education efforts, CCE Seneca maintains www.senecarecycles.org for residents to obtain recycling information including:

• guidelines/list of recycle items
• pick-up calendar
• search engine to find out where to recycle items that cannot recycle in your blue bin

Seneca County Recycling Guide (View/download PDF)

The items listed below may be placed in the same blue bin or toter. Per stop maximum: eight (8) 17 gallon recycling bins OR two (2) 65 gallon toters is permitted (clearly labeled for recycling)

Preparation: Clean to remove food residue and odors. Remove and discard lids and tops.

Do not place items in large garbage bags.

• Glass - Clear or color food or beverage bottles and jars. No broken glass.
• Newspapers & Magazines: Any newspaper, inserts, magazine and catalogs. Fold neatly and place in brown paper bag or place loose in blue box or toter.
• Metal/Aluminum Cans & Foil: Any metal food can or aluminum foil.
• Plastic: Containers with recycling code #1 - #7 on bottom with three recycling arrows. Styrofoam cannot be included. No motor oil containers.
• Corrugated Cardboard: Cardboard with wavy middle layer ONLY. Flatten all boxes. Remove excess tape and labeling. Cut to maximum of 3 ft. x 3 ft. by 18 inches high. Tie in bundles.
• Boxboard: Examples include cereal and tissue boxes, paper towel rolls and soda carriers. Flatten and place in blue bin or toter.
• Office Paper & Junk Mail: Advertising flyers, colored or white paper, envelopes, shredded paper, and computer paper. Place in brown bag or loose in the blue bin or toter.
• Gable-Top Containers: This includes juice cartons with tear-open tops. Flatten and place in blue bin or toter.

Items that are NOT recyclable: 

• Styrofoam (even with a # and recycling symbol)
• window or broken glass
• light bulbs
• aerosol cans
• scrap metal
• ceramics
• china
• Pyrex
• hazardous material and/or containers, such as motor oil containers. 
• Plastic bags can only be returned to supermarkets and other stores that accept them. See full list of bags and wraps that recycle this way below.

Recycling plastic bags and wraps at your grocery store:

Please recycle only clean, dry plastic bags and film. Remove receipts or any other items from bags.

NO degradable/compostable film or bags, pre-washed salad mix bags, or frozen food bags.

Plastic bags and wraps that can be recycled at your grocery store:

• bags labeled #2 or #4
• bread bags
• case wrap (ex. snacks, water bottles)
• diaper wrap (packaging)
• dry cleaning bags
• electronic wrap
• furniture wrap
• grocery bags
• newspaper bags
• cereal box liners (if it tears like paper do not include)
• food storage bags (ex. Ziploc® Bags)
• retail bags (hard plastic & string handles removed)
• shipping envelopes (no bubble wrap/remove labels)
• produce bags
• toilet paper, napkin, and paper towel wraps
• Tyvek (no glue, labels, other material)

Blue Bins are available at County Office Building (top floor in the Real Property Tax Office): 1 DiPronio Dr., Waterloo.

Toters are available to Seneca County residents for purchase. A 65 gallon toter from Cardinal Disposal can be used in lieu of 4 blue bins. Purchase price is $81 (tax included).

ABOUT:

In 2011 Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension (SCCCE) was given the responsibility of providing residential recycling education in Seneca County through information displays, fact sheets, public service announcements, presentations and a separate web-site.

Last updated November 13, 2024