WHAT CAN I PUT IN MY RECYCLING BARREL?

What can I recycle in my bin?

Please recycle ONLY the following in your bin/cart:

Paper, cardboard, and cartons

That’s it—no other fiber products. For example, wood and textiles are made from natural fiber but they aren’t paper, cardboard, or cartons, so they don’t belong in your bin or cart. Paper and cardboard should be mostly clean and dry (a little grease on a pizza box is OK) and be flattened. Cartons must be empty at a minimum and rinsed whenever possible. Place plastic tops back on to cartons prior to recycling.  No shredded paper, and no napkins, tissues or paper towels. 

Metal cans, lids, and foil

That’s it—no other metal.  For example, a metal frying pan is not a can, lid, or foil, so it doesn’t belong in your bin or cart. Containers must be empty at a minimum and rinsed whenever possible. Foil should be clean and bunched up.

Glass bottles and jars

That’s it—no other glass. For example, a drinking glass is not a bottle or jar, so it doesn’t belong in your bin or cart. Containers must be empty at a minimum and rinsed whenever possible. Remove metal tops from glass bottles and jars first, and recycle separately.

Plastic containers

That’s it—no other plastic. For example, a plastic coat hanger is not a container, so it doesn’t belong in your bin or cart.  Containers must be empty at a minimum and rinsed whenever possible. Place plastic tops back on to containers prior to recycling.

No foam containers, or plastic containers that once held flammable materials or oily chemicals like gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides or herbicides.

Overflow Trash Bag Program

The Overflow Trash Bag Program is one of several strategic initiatives the City has taken to reduce recycling contamination. As part of this program residents can purchase overflow trash bags to put excess trash in. These overflow bags can be left our on your regular trash pick up day.

As of November 2018, Providence’s weekly curbside recycling rate stood at 18%. The City has also reduced its contaminated monthly residential recycling loads by 50% since 2015 and is on track to meet its goal of zero contaminated recycling loads and a 30% residential recycling rate by 2030. This data is tracked and reported publically via the City’s SustainPVD Dashboard online at SustainPVD.org.

Local businesses are encouraged to participate in the official Providence Overflow Trash Bag Program, offering the high-quality bags for retail sale at $10 for a sleeve of five bags. Participation in the program requires that businesses sell the official Overflow Trash Bags selected by the City, at the set unit cost, and with the addition of RI sales tax to the sale of the bags.

Retailers can place orders by calling 1-800-866-3954 or by emailing .

Overflow Trash Bag Purchase Locations

Outreach will continue over the life of the program to include more local participating businesses, those currently enrolled in the program and selling bags in Providence include:

The City continues to ask residents to under no circumstance place excess trash within recycling bins and to only place excess trash in the designated Overflow Trash Bags, which are specifically designed to prevent rodent intrusion.