RECYCLING & REUSE GUIDE

When it comes to waste, it can sometimes be difficult to know what goes where. Check out the information below to see how you can start diverting your waste for recycling and reuse locally.

Mixed Recycling:

1. Recycle from your curb! Use your green-lid recycling cart to recycle aluminum and steel cans, paper, plastic bottles and jugs, cardboard, cartons and more!

2. Find a recycling drop-off location near you! There are a number of full-service drop-off sites located around the city where you can recycle your mixed recycling as well as glass.

Glass Recycling:

Glass is NOT accepted curbside in your recycling cart because it contaminates the other recyclables, is dangerous for recycling employees, and is problematic for recycling machinery.

• FREE - If you would like to recycle your glass, you can take accepted glass items to a PURPLE container at a City of Omaha recycling drop-off site.
   
• PAID - Glassman Recycling & Repurposing offers a fee-based, residential pick-up service for glass recycling in the Omaha metro.

Plastic Bag & Film Recycling:

Flexible films and plastic bags CANNOT be accepted in the City of Omaha's recycling program, but they CAN be recycled via store drop-off containers for free. Look for special, plastic bag collection containers at participating retail and grocery stores.

• Items accepted at participating retail locations include: plastic grocery bags, plastic film or plastic wrap, dry cleaning bags, Ziploc bags, and the outer plastic wrap around paper towels. See a list of items that are commonly accepted in store drop-off containers. 
   
• Read more about the NexTrex Plastic Bag & Film Program and find participating Omaha locations in this list of U.S. Retail Locations. Note: Each retailer may also have its own information about materials collected.

EPS & Foam Recycling: 

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is the rigid white packaging foam used to protect goods like televisions, appliances, glass items, and perishables. EPS (commonly known as Styrofoam) and other types of foam are NOT accepted in City of Omaha curbside recycling carts or drop-off site containers. However, there are some local alternative options for recycling this material:

• Rigid EPS foam marked #6, such as foam coolers and protective packaging, can be taken to Plastilite Corporation at 4930 Battlefield Drive in Omaha. Plastilite offers a convenient EPS collection container outside of their building that is accessible 24/7 for free. EPS foam items should be clean and free of all glue, tape, and labels. NOTE: Plastilite is unable to accept food containers, meat trays, or foam cups even if they are marked #6, no flexible foam or wrap, and no foam peanuts.
   
• Flexible foam items and foam food containers (including foam takeout containers and cups, foam meat trays, egg cartons, or packing peanuts) can be placed in an orange Hefty® ReNew® bag. 

Hefty® ReNew® Program: 

Hard-to-recycle plastics that are NOT accepted in the general recycling CAN be placed in an orange Hefty® ReNew® bag. First Star Recycling offers this special program to collect hard-to-recycle plastics in our community. To participate, you can purchase orange Hefty® ReNew® bags, which will be collected through your existing curbside and drop-off site services. When filled with accepted materials and tied shut, the bright orange Hefty® ReNew® bag is the ONLY bag that can be placed in a curbside recycling cart or drop-off site container.

• Visit this link to see a list of accepted items for the Omaha-specific program, including: empty and clean chip bags, snack bags, plastic candy wrappers, toothpaste tubes, plastic utensils, and polystyrene (styrofoam) cups or take-out containers.  

Chemicals & Household Hazardous Waste:

Leftover household chemicals like antifreeze, bug spray, fertilizer, motor oil, paint thinner, and weed killer can pose a threat to health, safety, and the environment when improperly discarded. These items are considered household hazardous waste. You can tell an item is hazardous when the label indicates words such as: Caution, Warning, Danger, Poison, Flammable, Volatile, Caustic, or Corrosive.

• Douglas & Sarpy County residents can dispose of unwanted chemicals and special waste items at the UnderTheSink facility near 120th & I Streets for free. See a list of accepted items and hours at UnderTheSink.org.

Photographed by shottofill for Hillside Solutions

Composting:

• FREE - There are many different ways to compost - check out these helpful resources from the EPA to begin composting at home!
   
• PAID - Hillside Solutions offers a subscription-based composting drop-off service called the Compost Club. This program takes stuff you can’t compost at home, like meat, dairy, bones, pet waste (with restrictions), paper towels, compostable take-out stuff, etc. Join the Compost Club and gain access to a network of drop-off sites around the Omaha metro.

Safe Battery Disposal: 

NEVER place Lithium or rechargeable batteries in household garbage or recycling bins. While batteries have become essential to our modern lives, safely disposing of them is JUST as essential. Certain types of batteries, specifically Lithium and rechargeable style batteries, can pose a fire risk when disposed of improperly. 

Common Battery Types:
Lithium-ion & rechargeable batteries can ignite if damaged. Take to an authorized battery collection site (e.g., electronics retailers) or household hazardous waste facility. Tape battery terminals with non-metallic tape or bag individually for transport.

Alkaline single-use batteries come in sizes such as: AA, AAA, D, C, or coin/button styles. Look for the word “Alkaline” to identify. It is best to recycle these batteries at an authorized site, however, alkaline are not considered hazardous.

Lithium single-use batteries may look similar to their alkaline counterparts, and often come in similar sizes and shapes (AA, coin, etc.). Look for the word “Lithium” to identify, and take Lithium batteries to an authorized site. DO NOT place Lithium batteries in the trash or curbside recycling as they can spark and cause fires if crushed.

• Download a Battery Safety Tip Sheet (PDF)
• Learn More About Household Batteries
• Find Battery Collection Sites Near You  

Omaha Recycling Guide: 

Keep Omaha Beautiful has partnered with the City of Omaha and First Star Recycling to create and manage the Omaha Recycling Guide. This online, searchable database found at OmahaRecyclingGuide.org features hundreds of common household items with tips and resources to help you recycle right. Get answers to your recycling questions, find out how to safely and properly dispose of special waste items, and divert waste through local resources for recycling and reuse.

• Browse the Guide by typing in an item name, search by category (e.g., "Batteries"), or see an A-Z list of items.

If you have any comments on how to improve the Omaha Recycling Guide or suggestions on resource listings to add, please contact us.

Additional Resources for Recycling: