Recycling at Home is Free and Easy
Recycling: Let's do it right!
Everyone can help Dayton’s recycling program work as it should! Recycling the right way reduces contamination and costs that occur when trash has to be processed multiple times.
When non-recyclable items are found in a recycling container, the recycling truck leaves the container and a waste collection truck is dispatched to empty it. Unfortunately, recyclable items in that same container will end up in the landfill rather than being recycled and reused.
We have three main goals for the City of Dayton's recycling program:
- To educate residents, raise awareness about recycling, and help residents to recycle right.
- To divert recycling materials from going to the landfill to a recycling center to be used as other materials down the line.
- To Increase recycling right participation by lowering contamination rates in the recycling stream in the City of Dayton.
Don't let the Oops pile up - recycle right
You can help make Dayton's recycling program more efficient and cost-effective by including only recyclable materials in your recycling bin. Unfortunately, many residents are not giving close attention to this important practice.
Starting in October 2020, City crews will put reminders ('OOPS’ stickers) on recycling bins with contaminants inside.
First Violation: The first time a container is contaminated, the crew will leave the container to be emptied by a waste truck. The address will receive a letter and education materials in an effort to get it corrected. The letter will outline the violation and steps to correct contamination and to recycle right.
Second Violation: The second time the same recycling container is contaminated, the crew will not empty the container, and they will put an OOPS sticker on it. The address will receive a 2nd OOPS postcard in the mail. The recycling container will be emptied by a waste truck as a contaminated recycling container.
Third Violation: The recycling container will be removed from the address and recycling service will be suspended for one year.
After One Year: After the one-year time period, a request can be made to resume recycling service by contacting the Call Center at 937-333-4800.
Thank you for helping Dayton recycle right
Acceptable recyclable items
- Glass Bottles & Jars (all colors)
- Metal Cans: Aluminum cans, steel cans and lids, empty aerosol cans with the lids and tips removed
- Plastic Bottles (empty, crush, reattach caps/lids): Bottles and jugs that have a small mouth and wider base, such as milk jugs, soda bottles, laundry detergent bottles, water bottles, shampoo bottles and contact solution bottles
- Paper: newspaper, magazines, cardboard, mixed office paper and envelopes, paperboard (cereal boxes), pizza boxes free of food debris and grease, telephone books and catalogs
- Cartons: food and beverage cartons, such as milk, juice, soup, wine, broth and other cartons
You can view a full list of what can and can't be recycled here (PDF).