You Ask, Patch Answers: What Can We Recycle?

Now that mandatory recycling is underway, , many residents want to do their best to adhere to the , while also helping the environment and .

We received a question from a Danvers resident wondering exactly what can and can't be placed in your recycling bin, and we went to the for some specific answers.

• Plastic laundry detergent bottles/chemical cleaners: As long as they’re rinsed out and are marked as a #1-#7 plastic, they can be recycled.
• Canned goods : No need to take labels off – just give them a quick rinse.
• Plastic fruit dishes:  Just give them a quick rinse.
• Strawberry/blueberry containers – If you can rip it, you can recycle it!  This category also includes the 4 cup holders from take-out places, egg cartons, etc.
• Grocery bags – NOT curbside, but bring them back to your local supermarket.

Danvers has dual stream recycling, meaning glass, cans, plastics #1-7 may be comingled in your recycling bin.

Paper including newspaper, magazines, paperboard may be bagged in paper, tied or put in a separate bin. Cardboard must be cut, flattened to 4’x 4’ and bundled to no thicker than 1’.

For a list of papers that can and cannot be recycled, check out Mass Recycles Paper.

To learn more about Danvers specific recycling, check out the video made in collaboration with .

To access it:

• Go to http://www.danverstv.org/home.htm
• At the top of the page, click the Video on Demand Button.
• In the new window, you will see a menu on the right. Click the heading that says “Town Hall Television”
• The Mandatory Recycling video should be in the list.
• Click the video and it will start to play automatically, and it could take a couple of seconds to load.

Have a question about something in Danvers? Email molly.buccini@patch.com to be featured in our next You Ask, Patch Answers.