Frequently Asked Recycling Questions

Q: Do I have to remove wrappers from aluminum cans and glass bottles and jars?

A: No, but please empty all remaining food and liquid from them. This will help keep your bin clean while aiding in the recycling process.

Q: What should I do with fluorescent light bulbs?

A: Residents are not required to recycle fluorescent bulbs, however, are encouraged to take them to one of the household chemical collection sites in Hillsborough County. Contact the City of Tampa Solid Waste Department at 813-348-1111 for further information.

Q: Can clean paper food boxes and egg crates be recycled with the newspapers?

A: Corrugated cardboard is recyclable, however it is not collected for recycling in the City of Tampa’s recycling program. If you have a large quantity of cardboard, you can take it to a local paper recycler. Check the phone listings for one nearby. Paper food containers are usually a grayboard material and should go in the garbage. Egg crates can be either paper or styrofoam. Many supermarkets will accept the styrofoam ones for recycling. They can also be reused for painting projects or other craft projects. The paper egg crates go with the garbage.

Q: Can I recycle yogurt and cottage cheese containers?

A: No. Please recycle narrow neck plastic bottles only such as soda and water bottles, cleaning products such as window cleaner, bathroom products such as shampoo and other food items such as ketchup etc.

Q. Can I recycle aerosol and other steel cans?

A: Aerosol cans are made from steel and are automatically recycled at the City's waste to energy facility. They are collected there by a large magnet and then sold to a metals recycler.

Q: Some residents in my neighborhood were notified in the brochure that their recycling day has changed. Why the change?

A: The City of Tampa Solid Waste Department will now be providing the recycling service. Some of the routes have been changed to accommodate an increased number of routes. Therefore, some of the neighborhoods had to be changed to a new route with a different day. Once those residents get used to their new day, everything else should be the same.

Q: Where do the recyclables collected at the curb go?

A: We are fortunate in the south to have reasonably good markets for the recyclables. All materials go through an intermediate processor who prepares the materials for markets and ship them to the various paper mills and plastic or glass or aluminum plants. The City does receive some revenue for most of the materials, which is put towards the overall program cost. Revenues generate less than 10% of the overall program cost.

Q: What happened to the drop off centers?

A: The drop-off centers were available for residents of the City of Tampa who did not have curbside recycling. As all residents with curbside garbage service now have curbside recycling service, there is no longer a need for the drop-off centers.

Q: What if I live in an apartment complex? Will the City provide recycling at our condo/apartment complex?

A: Yes, currently we will provide containers for residents to recycle for a one time fee. In the next couple of months, the Department will be making changes to the billing process so that there will be no fee for the containers but there will be a small monthly charge based on number and size of containers required and frequency of service. Call the Solid Waste Customer Service line at 813-348-1111 for further assistance.

Q: How is the success of the recycling program measured?

A: One determinate of success is participation. Placing your blue box out once a month for collection is considered participating.

Q: I already had a blue recycling bin. Is the old one recyclable? What should I do with it?

A: Many boxes were ready to be replaced. The old bins have been made with 50% recycled plastic, but are not easily recyclable. Since you can now recycle plastic bottles, you can use it for the plastic, glass and aluminum and put the newspapers in the other one if you like. The driver will take the recyclables from both bins. You can also put the old bins out with the regular garbage and they will take it. As garbage is burned here in Tampa and energy produced, the bin will be recycled into energy.

Q: What about yard waste? Where can it be recycled?

A: Solid Waste Department crews provide yard waste recycling to several areas in the city that has a high volume of yard waste. Once a week service is provided for only yard waste that is bundled and / or containerized. No container is provided by the city for this service.

Q: Who can I call with questions?

A: For general questions about recycling, call the City of Tampa Solid Waste Customer Service line at 813-348-1111.