How Do I Dispose Of Directory - "B"

Bags - Paper

Pay-As-You-Throw customers can recycle paper bags, except for gift bags. Gift bags have a waxy coating that makes them difficult to recycle. Please reuse them for another gift or place them in your garbage.

If you are not a Pay-As-You-Throw customer, consult your waste company or building manager about whether to put paper bags in your trash or in your recycling.

Ecology Action accepts paper at its downtown Austin recycling drop off center.

Bags - Plastic

Solid Waste Services cannot recycle plastic bags, dry cleaner bags, plastic food bags or plastic newspaper sleeves.

Do NOT use plastic bags to hold recycling or yard trimmings. If you must, you can dispose of these types of plastic bags in your garbage cart.

Recycling Options:

• Many Austin retail grocers such as Central Market, H.E.B., Randalls, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods collect and recycle plastic bags. Look for the specially marked containers at these stores.
• Cycled Plastics in Austin is a public dropoff for plastic, including dry cleaner bags, newspaper sleeves and plastic bags that have had no food contact and have no labels or stickers on them. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10200 McKalla Place.
• Many schools in Austin have organized plastic bag recycling projects. Check with a nearby school to see if you can drop off and support their efforts.

Top 5 Reasons to Reuse a Bag:

1. The petroleum in 14 plastic bags could drive a car 1 mile.
2. Americans use over 14 billion plastic bags a year.
3. It takes 70% more global warming gases to make a paper bag than a plastic bag.
4. Plastic bags do not biodegrade in landfills.
5. Cities spend up to 17 cents per bag in disposal costs.

Bathroom Cleaners

Rinse empty bottles three times and use the rinse water like you used the product.

If the bottles are made from #1 - #7 plastic, Pay-As-You-Throw customers can recycle them by putting them in their recycling cart with their other recyclables.

If you are not a Pay-As-You-Throw customer, consult your waste company or building manager about whether to put them in your trash or in your recycling.

If the bottles are not empty, please take them to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Batteries

Residents of the City of Austin and Travis County may household and car batteries free of charge to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility where they will be recycled or disposed of safely.

There are also several stores throughout Austin where household batteries (any battery except a car battery) can be dropped off for recycling or safe disposal.

Car batteries can also be taken back to stores that sell them. There is often a fee for this service. A metal recycler may even pay you for your car battery. Check the yellow pages under "Recycling Centers" for a list of recyclers.

Biologically active materials

The Household Hazardous Waste Facility is not equipped to handle biologically active materials. Please consult Stericycle at 1-800-972-7140 for disposal options. Do not put these materials in your garbage cart, dumpster or recycling cart.

Bleach bottles

Rinse empty bottles three times and use the rinse water like you used the product.

If the bottles are made from #1 - #7 plastic, Pay-As-You-Throw customers can recycle them by putting them in their recycling cart with their other recyclables.

If you are not a Pay-As-You-Throw customer, consult your waste company or building manager about whether to put them in your trash or in your recycling. Ecology Action accepts #1 and #2 plastic bottles at its downtown Austin recycling drop off center.

If the bottles are not empty, please take them to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Boats

Solid Waste Services cannot collect boats or any item with a title of ownership during bulky item collection. Please contact a junk yard to dispose of an old boat.

Boxes

See Moving Boxes.