Recycling in Indianapolis, IN

When was the last time you recycled?

Earlier today?

Last week?

Not sure?

People usually give the same reasons for not recycling: “It’s too inconvenient.” “I’m not sure what can be recycled.” “Does it even make a difference?”

The truth is recycling is one of the easiest habits households can build. Small actions add up. Every bottle, box, can, and electronic item kept out of a landfill helps reduce waste and preserve resources for the future.

To make things easier, Dumpster on Demand put together this guide covering what you can recycle, where to recycle in Indianapolis, what to do with items that cannot be recycled, and lesser-known items that may still have recycling options.

Let’s get started.

What Can You Recycle?

The list of recyclable materials continues to grow as recycling technology improves.

Keeping track of accepted materials can feel confusing, so here is a collection of common things you can recycle in the Indianapolis area.

Paper Recycling

Paper is part of daily life. Mail, cardboard deliveries, newspapers, office paper, and packaging all add up quickly. Paper makes up 21% of the total trash or 71 million tons of trash each year.

That’s a lot, which is why recycling it matters.

Recyclable paper products:

• Flattened cardboard
• Paper containers and paper cups
• Milk, juice, and soup cartons
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Cereal and snack boxes
• Office paper
• Shredded paper placed in a paper bag
• Junk mail with personal information removed
• Phone books

Breaking down boxes before recycling also helps save space and improve collection efficiency.

Plastic Recycling

Plastic makes life convenient. It’s how you keep tonight’s dinner fresh to be tomorrow’s lunch. It’s great for storing mom’s meatloaf, but it creates long-term environmental problems when improperly discarded.

Remember, clean recycling works better. Food residue and contamination can prevent items from being recycled properly.

If you get confused on what plastic is recyclable, use shape as an easy guideline.

Containers shaped like bottles, jugs, and jars are accepted. For any other shape, check local recycling guidelines before placing them in a bin.

Recyclable plastic products:

• Water bottles
• Shampoo bottles
• Soap bottles
• Detergent containers
• Milk jugs
• Contact lens solution bottles

Metal Recycling

The soda cans you toss out every day make up a part of 2.7 million tons of metal trash Americans throw out each year. And only 50% of that is recycled. That’s bad. Really bad.

Instead of being thrown out, metal can be recycled to reduce the need for raw material extraction.

Recycling also uses less energy than producing new metal products. That’s a win for the environment!

Before recycling, rinse and clean containers thoroughly.

Recyclable metal products:

• Aluminum cans
• Aluminum foil
• Steel cans
• Tin cans
• Soup cans
• Soda cans
• Beer cans
• Non-ferrous metals

Glass Recycling

Unlike metals and plastics, Americans do make an effort with glass recycling. Most glass bottles are made with 27% recycled glass. It helps that glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality.

Indianapolis proudly accepts many types of glass products, which makes recycling easier for local residents.

Glass should be clean and intact whenever possible.

Recyclable glass products:

• Clear glass jars and bottles
• Amber glass containers
• Green glass containers
• Mixed glass colors

Be careful not to put broken glass straight into recycling containers.

Wrap it safely first to avoid injuries to the workers who collect your recycling.

Battery Recycling

Batteries contain materials that can be reused to make new batteries or even completely different items like ceramics or steel.

You should never put them in with other recyclable items like plastic or paper, since they contain harmful chemicals too.

Instead, they should be separated and taken to special recycling centers that know how to handle them safely.

If thrown away with regular trash, they run the risk of igniting a fire.

Recyclable batteries:

• Car batteries
• Household batteries
• Button batteries
• Rechargeable batteries

Electronic Recycling

Broken or outdated electronics you are ready to throw out are called e-waste.

E-waste isn’t useless. They actually contain reusable materials and components, but they require special handling and should never be mixed with everyday recyclables.

Indianapolis has special electronic recycling centers that know how to break down your old computers and electronics to take out useful, reusable parts.

Recyclable electronic products:

• Cell phones
• CDs and CD players
• Computers
• Copiers
• Digital cameras
• Gaming systems
• Floppy disks
• Microwaves
• Monitors
• Printers
• Scanners
• Disk drives
• Television sets
• VCRs

Appliance Recycling

Usually when you splurge on a new air conditioner or change your 20th century fridge for a smarter, prettier one, your appliance store will offer to take the old appliance for recycling.

But if not, taking your appliances to a recycling center in Indianapolis remains a better option than sending them to a landfill.

Recyclable appliances in Indianapolis include:

• Air conditioners
• Washers and dryers
• Dehumidifiers
• Dishwashers
• Freezers
• Furnaces
• Garbage disposals
• Heat pumps
• Microwaves
• Ovens
• Refrigerators
• Stoves
• Trash compactors
• Water heaters

Where Can I Recycle in Indianapolis, IN?

Depending on what you need to recycle, Indianapolis offers several options.

Curbside Pickup

Indianapolis residents have the option for curbside pickup, so you don’t have to drive around town with bags of trash looking for a recycling center.

Curbside pickups usually take:

• Paper
• Plastic
• Glass
• Metal

Drop-Off Locations

If you can’t get curbside pickup or you prefer to personally drop off your recycling so you feel better about doing your part in saving the planet, there are several drop-off recycling locations in Indianapolis.

Drop-off facilities may accept:

• Electronics
• Cardboard
• Scrap metal
• Appliances
• Specialty materials

Always check accepted-item lists before visiting.

Grocery Stores

If your southern granny taught you the strange habit of hoarding plastic bags and you’re finally ready to break free of that habit, good news!

Many grocery stores in Indianapolis now accept plastic bags for recycling.

They provide dedicated collection containers for:

• Plastic shopping bags
• Plastic film materials

Automobile Shops

You may not have any use for an old car battery, but your local auto shop knows a thing or two to do with it. Old batteries should no longer need to sit in a garage indefinitely.

Many automotive service centers accept:

• Car batteries
• Certain vehicle fluids
• Related automotive materials

Ask local shops before visiting.

What To Do With Items You Cannot Recycle

Certain materials can’t be recycled yet, but hopefully that will change soon.

For materials that cannot be recycled, consider:

• Selling them if they’re still usable
• Donating them
• Using Indianapolis heavy trash pickup services

Take materials directly to the dump or call up Dumpster on Demand to help out. We’ll rent you a dumpster to collect all your trash and come haul it away. No stress needed!

Dumpster rentals allow you to dispose of large amounts of material in one place without making repeated trips.

Items You Didn’t Know Were Recyclable

Yes, now you know if you didn’t already, paper, plastic, glass, and metal are recyclable. None of that surprised you.

But many surprising products now have recycling programs.

Some uncommon recyclables include:

• Pet fur
• Old bras
• Glasses and hearing aids
• Mattresses
• Pantyhose
• CDs
• Tennis balls
• Wine corks
• Running shoes
• Gift cards
• Credit cards
• Hotel keys
• Dentures
• Chewed gum
• Holiday lights
• Crayons
• Compact fluorescent bulbs
• Toilets
• Cigarette waste
• Solo cups
• Artificial Christmas trees

Some of these programs are limited and may only be available through specialized facilities.

Recycling, It’s Easy!

Millions of tons of waste enter landfills every year. Recycling helps reduce that number and gives materials another life instead of sending them straight to disposal.

Learning what can be recycled and where to take it makes the process easier for everyone.

And when you have materials that cannot be recycled, are handling a major cleanout, or need a simple way to manage large amounts of waste, Dumpster on Demand can help.

Whether you are cleaning out a home, managing construction debris, or tackling a renovation, Dumpster on Demand provides hassle-free dumpster rentals in Indianapolis, IN, to make cleanup easier.

Call us today to order a dumpster!