Zero Waste About SectionWelcome to Zero Waste DCThe District’s one-stop resource on reducing waste, recycling, composting, and special waste handling. What Goes Where?Have you ever been unsure about which items can be recycled, or which items are considered too hazardous to put in your trash bin? With our new “What Goes Where?” tool, we’ve taken the guesswork out. Simply type in the name of the item you have a question about, and information will be provided on how best to dispose of it in the District. *Note: Collection schedules for commercial and multi-family properties with four or more units will not appear in this tool. Check with your waste service provider to find out more. |
Background
Plastic bags, wraps, and film of any color, size, or shape are not accepted in DC’s curbside single stream recycling bin (the blue bin).
On a daily basis, the items clog machinery used to process recyclable materials resulting in operational problems, facility shutdowns and safety hazards to employees.
Types of Plastic Bags and Wraps No Longer Accepted
*Commercial entities may use clear or non-pigmented plastic bags liners to hold clean and empty recyclables; however, unbagged recyclables are preferred.
From Home to Curbside
Just remember: Recycling facilities may reject recyclables if they are contained in a plastic garbage bag or include wraps and film of any kind. Consider designating a recycling bin, basket or a reusable tote bag within your home to collect your recyclables. Recyclable materials (e.g. bottles, cans, paper) should still be dumped loosely into your curbside recycling bin. Note: although the District’s curbside recycling collection program works best when materials are not bagged at all, some residents may prefer to collect recyclables in an open paper bag which may be dropped into their collection cart. These paper bags will be recycled along with the materials you have collected.
Recycling Through Store Drop-Off
It is possible to recycle these materials if they are dropped off at grocery stores and retailers voluntarily participating in a plastic film recycling program. When these materials are dropped-off at participating locations, they are recycled into many products including new bags, composite lumber, pallets, containers, crates, pipes, and more. There are more than 25 locations throughout the District along with additional options in Maryland and Virginia. You can also enter your zip-code to find your nearest recycling location by going to the Plastic Film Recycling Directory (http://www.plasticflimrecycling.org).
Pro-Tip: Bring A Reusable Bag
Waste less like a pro and keep plastics out of waterways by reducing your usage of them. A District-wide bag law survey revealed that the most common reason why residents aren’t using reusable bags is because they forget them at home. To get would-be reusable bag users over the hurdle of forgetfulness, DC’s Department of Energy and Environment has launched a Share-A-Bag initiative in the NoMa DC Neighborhood.
Participants can grab a free, reusable bag or leave one at the exchange kiosks. Visit Share-A-Bag to learn how to participate.
Commercial Entities and Bin Liners
For commercial properties, which include multifamily dwellings with four or more units and non-residential commercial entities, a clear, plastic liner is accepted to collect recyclables in receptacles. These plastic liners are also NOT recyclable themselves and are currently accepted for the convenience of commercial operations. While commercial properties are not prohibited from using clear bin liners, recycling haulers may elect not to accept them. DPW’s transfer stations will accept clean and empty recyclables bagged in a clear bin liner from commercial entities. DPW-collected curbside residential recyclables should involve no bags or liners at all.
Questions?
For more information, please email [email protected].
Related Links
Plastic Bag, Wraps and Film Recycling Directory by Zip Code
Mayor’s List of Recyclables and Compostables
Recycling: What is Accepted and Not-Accepted
Affected Types of Plastic Bags, Wraps and Film
District residents can now drop off food waste at designated farmers' markets free of charge. The food waste will be taken to a local composting site where it will be turned into compost, an environmentally friendly-soil amendment.
The Ward 4 Food Waste Drop-Off location will re-open in conjunction with the opening of the 14th & Kennedy Farmers' Market. For more information, please visit our website: https://zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff
Join the Sierra Club and the University of District of Columbia for this visually-rich and upbeat discussion with best-selling author Bea Johnson as she shares her tribulations and secrets to achieving Zero Waste and the importance of the 5R's (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot). During her talk, Bea will shatter misconceptions and discuss how a Zero Waste lifestyle can lead to significant health benefits, as well as time and money savings. She will bring the sometimes intimidating topic of Zero Waste down to a manageable scale. Bea’s non-judgmental approach and practical suggestions will help the environmentally unaware and eco-minded alike discover a whole world of possibilities for creating a more sustainable and waste-free lifestyle. Find out more about Bea and her Zero Waste lifestyle at www.zerowastehome.com.
On Wednesday, April 18th from 1-2:30 PM Eastern, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance is hosting a webinar on, “Using Bokashi in Community Composting: What, Why, How, Who.” This is one in a series of webinars oriented toward community composters and offered on behalf of the community composter network.
Bokashi is a Japanese term meaning “fermented organic matter.” Bokashi fermentation utilizes a variety of by-products – such as leaves, sawdust, husks, bran, other grains – inoculated with beneficial microbes to ferment kitchen waste. It is an anaerobic (without oxygen) process, akin to pickling. Often mistakenly considered a form of composting, it results in a very different product. However, as a pre-processing step to composting, it has several benefits including ability to handle meat and dairy, repelling rats, speeding up the composting process, and cutting frequency of food scrap collection.
Join this webinar, to learn:
Lessons from three micro composters:
ECO City Farms (Md.)
Vokashi (N.Y.)
Common Ground Compost (N.Y.)
Intrigued? Join this webinar to learn the benefits and the details of what bokashi is and its relationship to the community composting.
Space is limited so register as soon as you can!
On April 21, Mayor Bowser calls on residents to get out and clean up the places you care about the most: your home, your block, your park, your river.
District residents can now drop off food waste at designated farmers' markets free of charge. The food waste will be taken to a local composting site where it will be turned into compost, an environmentally friendly-soil amendment.
The Ward 5 Food Waste Drop-Off location will re-open in conjunction with the opening of the Brookland's Monroe Street Farmers' Market. For more information, please visit our website: https://zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
To locate a collection site near you, please visit the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)'s website.
Additionally, the Product Stewardship Institute has gathered a list of resources for Washington DC.
District residents can drop off household hazardous waste and unwanted electronic waste at the DC Department of Public Works Fort Totten Transfer Station at no cost. HHW should not be put in trash or recycling containers for DPW to collect, nor should they be included with items for bulk trash collection. Help protect DPW employees from being harmed by these potentially toxic items by disposing of them properly.
Every first Saturday of each month, DC Department of Public Works makes it easy for residents to shred personal documents and dispose properly of solid waste, household hazardous waste, and unwanted electronic waste at no cost. HHW should not be put in trash or recycling containers for DPW to collect, nor should they be included with items for bulk trash collection. Help protect DPW employees from being harmed by these potentially toxic items by disposing of them properly.
District residents can now drop off food waste at designated farmers' markets free of charge. The food waste will be taken to a local composting site where it will be turned into compost, an environmentally friendly-soil amendment.
The Ward 3 Food Waste Drop-Off location will re-open in conjunction with the opening of the University of District of Columbia Farmers' Market. For more information, please visit our website: https://zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff
Request a PresentationThe Department of Public Works is happy to send a staff member to present to your community group, office, business, agency, or school on District Recycling information.
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