Here’s the right way to recycle items in Orange County

Orlando, Fla. — Those living in Orange County shouldn't be surprised if the recycling police pay a visit.

A 12-week program is in affect which requires contractors to inspect curbside recycling carts of 36-thousand homes from Avalon Park to Hunters Creek.

Azalea Park, Conway, Orlo Vista and Pine Hills are also on the list.

The wrong items are anything except plastic bottles and containers, aluminum, steel or tin cans, glass bottles and jars, flattened corrugated boxes, newspapers and other paper products.
Thin plastic grocery bags, pizza boxes or polystyrene foam containers are also not allowed.

If you DON’T live in Orange County, here’s how to recycle in your Central Florida neighborhood.

Seminole County:

The following items ARE accepted in the curbside recycling program:

Pasteboard (i.e., cereal boxes, empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls, soda boxes, beer boxes, tissue boxes, gift boxes, pizza boxes and shoe boxes)
Brown paper grocery bags (no wax, no wet strength material, no liners)
Corrugated cardboard (flattened and cut down to fit inside the recycle bin)
Newspaper, supplements, magazines and catalogs
Box Board, Carrier Stock, White and Colored Paper
Plastic Containers #1-7 (#'s on bottom of containers) Remove all lids
Glass bottles and jars (clear, green and brown) Remove all lids
Aluminum cans
Steel cans and tin household containers, such as food cans
Telephone Books

*Please rinse out all containers and discard lids

These items ARE NOT included in the curbside recycling program: Plastic bags, plastic cups, paper cups (wax lined), paper plates (wax lined), motor oil or pesticide containers, light bulbs or drinking glassware, aluminum foil or pie plates, paint or pesticide cans, electronic devices, styrofoam trays/egg cartons.

Brevard County:

The following items ARE accepted in the curbside recycling program:

Plastic bottles, jugs and tubs
Metal cans
Glass bottles and jars
Cooking spray cans (empty)
Tubes and drink cartons
Paper (sheets)
Cardboard boxes (except used pizza boxes)
Plastic bottles, jugs and tubs
Cleaning spray cans (empty)

Here's a list of what NOT to recycle in Brevard County.

Putting incorrect items into your recycling cart can lead to contamination of the entire recycling load.

This can end up rendering the entire load un-recyclable as the contamination can spread to the other products.

Volusia County:

The county uses the “dual-sort system,” meaning it uses two bins: one for paper materials and one for plastic, steel, glass and aluminum containers.

Newspapers and other fiber materials: Fiber items are to be placed in your fiber materials bin. When recycling cardboard boxes please make sure they are broken down and flat.
Paper materials: Newspaper inserts including glossy pages, mixed office paper, junk mail, magazines, corrugated cardboard boxes (no larger than 4 feet by 4 feet), cereal boxes (no liners) and snack boxes beverage cartons,gift boxes.
Glass bottles: All colors of glass (green, amber and clear) may be placed in your bin. Please remove lids and dispose of them in your regular garbage.
Aluminum/steel cans: Recycle all aluminum and metal beverage and food cans. Aerosol cans also may be recycled but be sure they are empty. Remove plastic tips and tops before recycling.
Plastic: Plastic containers coded 1 & 2 are accepted in your curbside recycling. Please remove caps and lids before recycling. Some plastic bottles that can be recycled include soda, juice, milk, medicine bottles, soap, bleach, shampoo, hair spray, alcohol and peroxide.

* Rinsing cans and jars helps reduce odor and discourages pests, such as ants, from invading your bin.

Polk County:

The following items ARE accepted in the curbside recycling program:

- Aluminum cans, tin/steel cans, tin or aluminum lids

- Clean cardboard.

- Plastic jugs (HDPE plastics) Translucent color only. No clear or colored plastics.

- Newspaper or uncoated paper.

*Keeping recyclable materials dry and free of grease, soil and residue is the best way to ensure success.

Osceola County:

The following items ARE accepted in the curbside recycling program: