The City of Gaithersburg has expanded its recycling contract with Waste Management to include a broader range of plastic items that can be placed in residential recycling bins along with newspaper, mixed paper, recyclable cans and glass containers.  The program takes effect immediately.

Previously the City’s recycling program for plastics only included clear or colored plastic bottles with necks, such as soft drink bottles, detergent and bleach bottles, milk jugs, and juice bottles, all with no caps.

Under the new program, residents may now include:

• Narrow-neck plastic bottles and caps that contained food, drink and household products (milk, juice, water, syrup, vegetable oil, salad dressing, cleaning, detergent and shampoo/ conditioner bottles)
  
  
• Plastic food-grade tubs and lids (margarine/butter tubs, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, whipped topping, peanut butter and deli containers, and prescription bottles)
  
  
• Plastic pails/buckets (ice cream, detergent, pet food and kitty litter containers)
  
  
• Plastic flower pots
  
  
• Plastic beverage cups

Residents are advised to empty and rinse all containers.  Labels and plastic rings around the neck of the bottles are acceptable.  Please note that the program DOES NOT include any plastic bottles or containers that held hazardous automotive or garden products (such as motor oil, antifreeze and pesticides), plastic wrap and bags, and Polystyrene and Styrofoam™ products.

For complete details about the City’s recycling program please visit the Public Works Department on the City’s website or call 301-258-6370.