Recycling Basics

Make a difference in the community by taking advantage of the city’s recycling services. SOCRRA (Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority) is now accepting more than ever! Check out all the items you can recycle:

• All plastic containers (discard hard plastic caps)
• All papers, paperback books, mail, newspapers, magazines and phone books (place together in plastic or paper grocery bag)
• Place shredded paper in a see-through plastic bag
• Clear, brown, blue and green glass bottles
• Cardboard
• Household batteries (secure in clear bag)
• Empty metal cans, small scrap metal objects and large metal items (place next to recycle bin) such as: grills, bikes, lawn mowers, washers, dryers and water heaters

All recyclables must be placed in the City's blue recycle bins. Pick up your recycle bins for $12 at our Department of Public Services office (located at 851 S. Eton) - cash or check only please!

Recycle as You Walk Through Town
The city recently added eight new community recycle bins throughout town. The bins are strategically placed next to existing trash cans and are easy to identify by their blue lids. Now you can easily recycle your newspaper, magazine or coffee cup as you're walking through Birmingham. You'll find the new community recycle bins in the following locations:

• Lot #6 Farmers Market • Cosi (Maple side) • Booth Park (on the patio) • Shain Park (at Martin/Henrietta) • Shain Park (at Merrill/Henrietta) • Birmingham Theater • Panera Bread (Woodward side) • Front of the Palladium (Hamilton)

Recycling Bins

Many Birmingham residents use more than one recycle bin. Additional recycle bins may be purchased for $12 at the Department of Public Service’s office at 851 S. Eton Road (cash or check only please).

View the recycling flyer to see exactly what you can place in your recycle bin.

Recycling is collected on the same day your trash is collected. Be sure to set out by 7:00 am on the
day of collection, and keep several feet between recyclables and other items out for collection such
as trash and yard waste.

Hazardous Waste

This group includes household products that have corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients, such as rodent poisons, paints, batteries, electronics, cleaners, fluorescent lightbulbs, and thermometers.

Residents may make an appointment with SOCRRA at 248.288.5153 to drop off electronic equipment and hazardous household waste. SOCRRA has a brand new online system allowing residents to schedule a hazardous waste drop-off appointment online. To schedule your appointment, visit SOCRRA’s web site.

Accepted hazardous waste includes:  

• Toner and ink jet cartridges	• Paints
• Solvents	• Garden chemicals
• Household cleaners	• Insulin syringes
• Fluorescent light bulbs	• Oils

• DO read product labels for proper disposal information.
• DO follow the “reduce-reuse-recycle” hierarchy.  Reduce the amount of hazardous waste in your home, and use up as much as possible.  As a last resort, arrange for disposal through community collection programs.
• DO participate in take-back and trade-in programs for batteries, computers, cartridges, and some electronics.  See company websites for instructions.
• DON’T pour hazardous waste down the drain, storm sewer, or in your yard.

Metals 

• DO recycle all aluminum cans. (If you aren’t certain if a can is aluminum, test it with a refrigerator magnet – aluminum is not magnetic).
• DO rinse out tin cans (the type that soup or pet food comes in) before putting them in your bin. You don’t need to remove labels, but if they are paper and come off easily, recycle them.
• DO remove plastic caps from metal containers and recycle them separately.
• DO drop off unused paint at a reuse program or hazardous waste collection center.
• DO place empty paint cans (i.e. no paint spills out when tipped upside down) into your curbsite recycle bin. If there is a dried thick crust of paint, put in trash or scrape out so empty can is recyclable.                                                                        

Plastic

• DO rinse out containers before recycling.
• DO remove the cap and throw it away.
• DON’T mix plastic bags, film wrap, or molded plastic with your recyclables. Put film wrap in the garbage and recycle bags at a local supermarket. Donate usable products, such as chairs and kids’ toys, that are made with molded plastic.

 Glass

• DO remove caps, lids, and corks from jars and bottles.
• DO rinse out glass containers.
• DON’T put ceramics, heat-resistant ovenware, mirrors, windows, lightbulbs, drinking glasses, garden pots, or broken container glass (bottles and jars) into the mix.

Paper

Accepted paper waste includes:

• computer paper	• carbonless forms
• magazines & catalogs	• telephone books
• newspapers	• loose-leaf paper
• “junk mail” (window envelopes are ok)	• construction paper (crayon marks are ok)
• office paper (any color, staples are ok)	• manila folders (no metal clamps)
• shredded paper (tied, see through plastic bag placed in bin)	• paperback books (hardcover books go SOCRRA Drop Off Center)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• DO keep it clean and dry. A greasy pizza box or damp paper towels can render a whole bin useless. Limit moisture by putting recycling out on collection day, rather than the night before.
• DO flatten cardboard.
• DO recycle junk mail, including envelopes with plastic windows.
• DO recycle magazines.
• DON’T throw in wax paper, Styrofoam, or heavily soiled paper (like oily fast food wrappers).
• DO unfold, flatten and bundle boxes with twine or tape and place inside, next to or under bin.
• DO unfold, flatten and stuff smaller boxes into larger box (no larger than (18”Wx24”Lx24”H) along
  with other fiber items and place inside or next to bin.
• DO set empty, large appliance boxes next to recycling bin. Make sure they are clear of packing materials or other trash. No need to break them down!