Bellevue is home to some of the best recyclers. Our residents continue to benefit both the environment and the economy by recycling their plastic, paper, cardboard, glass and metal cans. No matter what, we should all keep recycling, and always recycle right.
Empty, clean and dry
One of the easiest ways to recycle right is to make sure what you're putting in the recycling bin is empty, clean and dry. Food and liquids in recyclables can allow mold to grow, which make the materials unacceptable for recycling. Containers that previously contained food or liquid should be rinsed to remove food and liquid residue. Shake out excess liquid and air dry. When putting recycling in your curbside bin, make sure you don't overfill the bin and keep the lid shut tight. Overflowing bins or open lids make it more likely for rain or other water to get in and ruin the recycling.
What to recycle
As long as they are empty, clean and dry, you should always recycle:
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Plastic bottles, jugs and tubs
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cans
When in doubt, find out
Recycle only materials that are accepted. Check
recycling guidelines from Republic Services, Bellevue’s solid waste provider, to ensure you're putting the right materials in your recycle cart.
Why recycle?
Recycling is one of the most important things we can do benefit both the environment and the economy. Recycling allows existing items to be made into new products. Making products from recycled content decreases the need to extract new materials, such as petroleum, wood, minerals and water from the environment. Keep recyclables out of the garbage to ensure they are made into new products instead of wasting away in a landfill.
Waste prevention
Waste prevention is another way to conserve resources, your time, and your money, and there are many easy ways to prevent waste.
Opting out of paper mailings and paper bills is a good first step to decreasing the amount of waste paper you generate. You can
opt out of junk mail, phone books, credit card offers and catalogs. Choose e-billing where available.
Choosing reusable items over single-use/disposable ones is another great way to prevent waste. Bringing your own bag for groceries to the store, bringing your own utensils for meals on the go, using a refillable water bottle or bringing your own cup are all ways to decrease the amount of waste you generate. These small changes add up over time.
