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   Contrary to a popular misconception, plastic bags, soft plastic, film plastic, and foam should be considered as regular garbage and should be kept out of your plastic recycling bins.

Additionally, here is a comprehensive list of items that should not be included in your plastic recycling bins nor most other traditional recycling categories:

Garden hoses 

 Luggage (plastic or textile)

 Sponges

 Sports balls, such as basketballs, bowling balls, soccer balls, footballs, yoga balls

 Any glass items other than glass bottles and jars (such as mirrors, light bulbs, ceramics, and glassware)

 Batteries (take batteries out of toys before recycling them)

Electronics (computers, TVs, and related devices)

Extension cords, cables, and Christmas tree lights

 Diapers

 Cassette and VHS tapes

 Printer cartridges

 Plastic or metal pens and markers

 Disposable razors

 3-ring binders (if you separate the metal rings, you can recycle the metal)

 Umbrellas

 Lighters (plastic, metal, or any material)

Plastic tubes (such as toothpaste, lotion, and cosmetics)

 Single-serve food and drink squeezable pouches like juice or baby-food pouches

 Plastic foam items (such as foam trays, cups, or egg cartons, foam packing peanuts, and foam sporting equipment)

 Plastic bags, wrappers, shower curtains, and all kinds of plastic “film”

Containers that held dangerous or corrosive chemicals

    Many items that should be kept out of your plastic recycling bins can be recycled by working with a program like Terracycle. They offer free recycling programs funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world to help you collect and recycle your hard-to-recycle waste. Simply choose the programs you’d like to join; start collecting in your home, school, or office; download free shipping labels; and send us your waste to be recycled. You can even earn rewards for your school or favorite non-profit!

    Additionally, many charities and some retailers will gladly take your used printer cartridges. Check out Earth911…

With Thanks To The City of New York