Public Works Frequently Asked Questions

Recycling and trash are collected on the same day, but by different trucks. This is necessary in order to prevent contamination of the recyclables.

Recyclables from the recycling container are sent to one of our Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for processing. The MRFs remove contamination (any non-recyclables that were placed in the recycle container) from the recyclables and then sort all the materials by paper, plastic, glass, and metal. The materials are then sold and transported to their next destination to be recycled.

It's important to mention that the Public Works Department does not sort recyclables out of the trash container. If recyclables are placed in the trash container, then they will go to the landfill. This is why it's very important to recycle, and to recycle right!

No, they do not need to be spotless. Please make sure the majority of food particles are either scraped out or rinsed out. Just a quick rinse is all you need.

Pizza boxes can be recycled if they have minimal grease. However, if the bottom of the box is completely covered in grease or cheese, then rip off the lid and recycle it. Throw away the greasy bottom.

Keep all lids on your plastic bottles, jars, and jugs. Anything smaller than 2.5 inches in diameter will get screened out at the recycling facility. If you keep the lid on, it will ensure the lid is recycled too.

However, glass items are the opposite since their lids are metal. Remove lids from glass jars and bottles. If the metal lids are larger than 2.5 inches in diameter, then those can be placed in the recycle container.

Please do not put food in the recycle container. When a recyclable item is contaminated with food, it ruins good recyclable material and limits its recyclability. Please make sure the majority of food particles are either scraped out or rinsed out of your containers, jugs, jars, and bottles. Just a quick rinse is all you need.

Compostable plastics are not accepted in the recycle container. Compostable plastics need to be sent to a Compost Facility for processing. Check to see if a local composter can take these materials. If not, they need to be placed in the trash container.

In Phoenix, we do not focus on the plastic numbers because they can be misleading. The plastic numbers tell you what type of plastic they are, not whether they are recyclable. For example, foam is often labeled with a #6 and a recycle symbol, but foam is not recyclable in Phoenix. As long as you follow the Recycle Master List you will ensure you are recycling the correct items.

Items like paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, and glass bottles are recyclable. For a full list of items that are accepted in our recycle container, you can download the Recycle Master List at www.phoenix.gov/recycle. You can also use the Recycle Right Wizard to search for any material to see if it's accepted in the recycle container.

Trash is not sorted. All trash will be sent to the city's landfill. This is why recycling and recycling right is so important!

The Save As You Reduce and Recycle program (SAY R&R) offers residents that currently have curbside trash pick-up service the option to downsize their current large trash container to a medium trash container for a monthly savings of $3 on their solid waste services bill.

Customers are required to have curbside trash collection and be enrolled in the city's recycling program before they can sign up for SAY R&R. You can sign up through myPHX311.

You can purchase a backyard compost bin from one of our transfer stations. Check out our Composting in Phoenix page for more details about how to request a backyard compost bin.

You can also bring yard trimmings to the transfer stations. With a valid ID and a copy of your city services bill, you can drop off up to 1 ton of clean yard waste per month for free. These materials are turned into compost at our facility. Learn more by visiting the Transfer Stations page.

At this time, the green organics container only accepts yard waste like lawn clippings, branches, tree fruit, cactus, and other yard trimmings. For a downloadable list of what's accepted in the container, visit the Green Organics Container page.

You can download our transfer station brochure for a list of the acceptable and unacceptable items. Also check out our transfer station page for all the details about bringing material to our transfer station.

The transfer stations are open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday. The transfer stations are also closed on city holidays. For additional information, visit the Transfer Station page.