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Blue-Bin Recycling
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How do we define
Blue-Bin Recycling?
Everything we categorize as Blue-Bin Recycling is banned from the landfill under Vermont Act 148 and the CSWD Solid Waste Management Ordinance. Items in this category must be clean and must not be put in the trash.
Blue-Bin recycling goes to the CSWD Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Williston, where items are sorted according to their shape and material type, baled, and sold as raw materials to make new products and packaging. For details on what happens to glass bottles and jars, see our All About Glass post.
Recycling Rules
Whether you get curbside pickup service or drop off your Blue-Bin Recycling at a CSWD Drop-Off Center, Blue-Bin Recycling rules for what’s accepted and how it must be prepared are the same throughout Vermont.
- Recycling must be LOOSE in your cart or dumpster (please do NOT put any recycling in a plastic bag)
- Paper & Cardboard must be clean and dry
- Single-Use Containers must be empty and rinsed.
Single-Use Containers
Accepted Single-Use Containers
Not Accepted Single-Use Containers
The following items and materials are common mistakes that cause significant problems in the system, including dangers for workers at our facilities. Please DO NOT include them in your recycling bin.
These items and materials often appear in recycling bins. Though they do not cause significant problems or pose any dangers to staff, it benefits the system to leave them out and they will not be recycled into new products
Paper & Cardboard
Accepted Paper & Cardboard
Not Accepted Paper & Cardboard
Disposal Options
Dispose with CSWD
All CSWD Drop-Off Centers accept up to two cubic yards of Blue-Bin Recycling.
Businesses with recurring loads of more than a cubic yard of recycling must contact CSWD’s Business Outreach Coordinator to review your recycling options.
Other Services
Contact Your Town
Three Chittenden County communities have different setups.
- City of Burlington Department of Public Works: Burlington DPW picks up Blue-Bin Recycling for all residential properties.
- The Town of Underhill sells stickers for curbside collection of trash and recyclables for its residents. Contact the Town Office: 802-899-4434.
- The Town of Westford provides collection of trash and recyclables for its residents. Contact the Town Office: 802-878-4587.
Fees & Payment Methods
| Amount | Fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| up to 1 cubic yard | $0.00 | If brought with at least 13 gallons of trash. |
| up to 1 cubic yard | $2.00 | If brought without trash |
| Each additional yard | $5.00 |
| Amount | Fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| per ton | $90.00 |
A to Z List
Have a specific item in mind? Use our A-Z list search to learn how to properly dispose of it.
Recycling Education
Keep Calm and Recycle On: Part 1, The Life of a Milk Jug
The first in a series on recycling in Vermont. Here…
Keep Calm and Recycle On: Part 2, The Rocky Road of Glass Recycling
The second in a series on recycling in Vermont. Read…
BUSTED: Blue-Bin mishaps
We’ve all been there, standing at a recycling bin, wondering…
Items Banned From Landfills
Information about how the Banned Materials Fee is assessed, and…
All About Glass
Glass recycling is a complicated subject. The story is long, and the process…
Act 148: Universal Recycling Law
In 2012, the Vermont Legislature unanimously passed Act 148, a universal…
Helpful Resources
Related Events
See upcoming CSWD Workshops and Tours, and holidays that may affect Drop-Off Center hours.
