recycling programs

Recycling Drop-Off Centers

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DSWA has expanded the single-stream recycling program to include over 180 drop-off centers across the state.

Since 1990, Delaware residents have used these drop-off centers at various locations to recycle their household items such as newspapers, plastic narrow-neck bottles, cans, junk mail, brown, green, and clear glass. Each type of material was sorted into different colored containers then collected for recycling.

Sorting is now a thing of the past! The drop-off centers are now single-stream, which means that residents will no longer have to sort their recyclables prior to coming to the drop-off centers.

Listed below is accepted materials for the DSWA recycling program.

• Newspapers/ Brown Paper Bags
• Magazines/Catalogs
• Telephone/Soft Cover Books
• Junk Mail/Envelopes (all types)
• Paper
• Paperboard (cereal/tissue boxes)
• Cardboard
• Narrow-Neck Plastic Bottles (examples: Milk Jugs, Bleach/Detergent, Shampoo Bottles)
• Plastic Grocery Bags
• Glass Bottles/Jars (any color)
• Metal Cans (tin/steel/aluminum)

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) only collects narrow-neck plastic bottles in both its Curbside Recycling Program and Recycling Drop-Off Centers. Narrow-neck plastic bottles such as water or soda bottles, shampoo bottles, and detergent bottles are accepted regardless of the recycling number found on the bottle and usually contains liquid contents. A narrow-neck plastic bottle is one that has a neck smaller than the body of the bottle. DSWA does not accept wide-mouth plastic containers such as butter or yogurt containers because the manufacturing process differs from narrow-neck bottles. Narrow-neck bottles are what are referred to as blown-molded plastic while the butter tubs and yogurt containers are injection-molded plastics or a "punched" plastic. While the types of plastics for both blow-molded and injection-molded plastics is still the same, the manufacturing process is different. This results in each plastic having a different melt index, which means that they melt at different temperatures. There are not many markets for other types of plastics, which do not have a narrow-neck in the regions around Delaware. Without a market to accept the items, DSWA has no one who will accept and process this type of plastic. For questions on a specific item, please contact the Citizens' Response Line at 1-800-404-7080.

Many drop-off centers also accept cardboard, household batteries, motor oil, oil filters and textiles. These types of materials will continue to be collected in separate containers due to their size or special nature.

Another exciting addition to DSWA’s drop-off program is the collection of paperboard items such as cereal and tissue boxes. These items are now being accepted with the curbside recycling program and at DSWA Drop-Off Centers. Residents should look for new bright yellow decals on the containers at their local center to determine if it has been converted to single-stream.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact the CITIZENS’ RESPONSE LINE at 1-800-404-7080.

At no cost to taxpayers, DSWA operates the statewide program, which averages three million pounds of recyclables received each month.

Listed below are the items accepted for recycling through the drop-off centers, as well as items that are not accepted, how things should be prepared and what new products are made by the recycled items.

Corrugated Cardboard (Dark Brown Containers) Most Locations

What: Clean corrugated cardboard only 

Preparation: Fold down to fit in 60" x 5" opening

Not Accepted: Cereal boxes, shoe or tissue boxes, beverage holders (These items are to be deposited into the Single-Stream Containers.)

New Product: New corrugated cardboard

Motor Oil (White Containers) Specified Locations Only

What: Used motor oil, hydraulic or diesel oil 

Preparation: Pour in drain of oil container. Dispose of oil container in regular trash.

Not Accepted: Gasoline or gas and oil mixture, anti-freeze, paint thinners or solvents.

New Product: Delaware City-based Valero collects the used oil to be processed in to fuel.

Oil Filters (White Containers) Same Locations as Motor Oil

What: Used car and truck oil filters. 

Preparation: None.

Not Accepted: Other steel products.

New Product: Oil is squeezed out and used for fuel. Steel is used to make new steel products.

Batteries (Small Yellow Containers)

What: Small household batteries and button type (A's, C's, D's, watch, hearing aide and camera). 

Preparation: None.

Not Accepted: Car, motorcycle or lantern batteries. Batteries are stored in drums for safe disposal.

Textiles (Light Brown Containers)

What: Old clothing, shoes (pairs only), curtains, linens. 

Preparation: Place items in leak-proof bags.

Not Accepted: Non-textile materials (rubber, vinyl), fabric scraps. No dirty rags, oil-, gas-, or paint-soaked rags.