Recycling should be simple, but when you're standing in front of the bin with a pizza box in one hand and a plastic container in the other, it's easy to second-guess yourself. Can this go in? Does it need to be cleaned first? What about the greasy parts?
Across New Jersey, residents make well-intentioned mistakes that contaminate entire batches of recyclables, sending them straight to landfills instead. A 2023 study found that 25% of items placed in recycling bins can't actually be recycled due to contamination or incorrect sorting.
The good news? Your local recycling center can help you get it right. Whether you're in Trenton, Princeton, or Hamilton, All County Recycling offers guidance and services that take the guesswork out of responsible waste management. Let's clear up the confusion and get you recycling with confidence.
Pizza boxes with grease stains, plastic bags tangled in machinery, and "wishful recycling" cause the biggest problems at New Jersey recycling centers. These items either can't be processed or damage the equipment designed to sort and compress materials.
Here's what typically ends up contaminating your recycling:
Greasy cardboard and paper: That pizza box might be cardboard, but the grease makes the fibers unusable. The same goes for paper plates, napkins, and food-soaked packaging. Clean cardboard and paper are highly recyclable—contaminated versions are not.
Plastic bags and film: Standard curbside bins can't handle plastic bags. They wrap around sorting equipment and shut down operations for hours at a time. Take bags to designated drop-off locations at grocery stores instead.
Food residue on containers: A peanut butter jar with residue still inside will contaminate an entire batch of glass. Rinse containers before recycling—it takes 30 seconds and makes all the difference.
Electronics and batteries: These items contain hazardous materials and require special handling. Never toss them in your regular recycling bin. Mercer County offers e-waste collection events throughout the year.
"Tanglers": Garden hoses, chains, wires, and cords get caught in machinery. Keep them out of your bin entirely.
Why does contamination matter? When recyclables arrive at a recycling center New Jersey facility already mixed with trash, the entire load often gets diverted to a landfill. Your efforts to recycle go to waste, and valuable materials that could be reused end up buried instead.
Check your municipality's website or call your local recycling center directly for the most accurate, up-to-date rules. Every town in New Jersey operates slightly differently, and what's accepted in Ewing might be rejected in Lawrence Township.
Start here:
Municipal websites: Most New Jersey towns list accepted materials, pickup schedules, and special instructions on their official websites. Search "[your town name] + recycling guidelines" to find the page.
Recycling center hotlines: When in doubt, call. All County Recycling at (609) 393-6445 answers questions about what can and can't be recycled at their Trenton facility. They'll tell you exactly how to prepare items and whether special arrangements are needed.
Mobile apps: Apps like Recycle Coach and iRecycle let you search for specific items and find local drop-off locations. They're free and surprisingly helpful when you're standing in your kitchen staring at an unusual piece of packaging.
County resources: Mercer County's Department of Public Works maintains information about recycling drop-off centers, hazardous waste collection days, and bulk item pickup schedules.
Local guidelines change based on what processing equipment your area uses and which materials are cost-effective to recycle. Following your specific town's rules keeps the system running smoothly and maximizes what actually gets reused.
A recycling center New Jersey facility does more than just accept your bins on trash day. These centers process thousands of tons of material monthly, sorting and compressing everything from office paper to industrial plastics.
At All County Recycling, residents and businesses can access:
Drop-off services: Bring materials directly to their Trenton location at 391 Enterprise Ave. They're open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Commercial recycling programs: Businesses generate different waste streams than households. All County Recycling customizes programs for offices, warehouses, and retail locations across Mercer, Somerset, Burlington, Middlesex, and Monmouth counties.
Specialized processing: The facility handles everything from standard cardboard recycling to plastics numbered 1 through 7. They process over 3,000 tons of material each month using their own equipment.
Waste stream analysis: Not sure what you're throwing away that could be recycled instead? Their team will analyze your waste and recommend a customized recycling plan that reduces landfill costs and generates revenue from high-volume materials.
Equipment provision: They offer vertical and horizontal baling machines, roll carts, containers, trailers, and toters so businesses can store and transport recyclables efficiently.
Why use a dedicated recycling center instead of relying solely on curbside pickup? Centers accept items that regular trash services won't touch, like bulk cardboard from a home renovation or shrink wrap from a business. They also offer expertise—staff can answer your questions in person and show you how to prepare materials correctly.
Rinse containers, remove lids, and keep materials separated by type. These three steps prevent contamination and make processing faster and more efficient.
Follow this checklist before you recycle:
Rinse all food and beverage containers: You don't need them spotless, but they should be free of residue. A quick rinse under the tap works for most items.
Remove caps and lids: Bottle caps are often made from different plastic than the bottles themselves. Some facilities can recycle them separately, while others can't process them at all. Check with your local center.
Flatten cardboard boxes: Broken-down boxes take up less space in your bin and are easier for machinery to sort. Flatten them before recycling.
Keep paper dry: Wet paper can't be recycled. Store paper products in a dry location and don't recycle them if they've gotten soaked.
Separate by material type when possible: Some centers want glass separate from plastic and metal. Others accept single-stream recycling where everything goes in one bin. Know which system your area uses.
Remove non-recyclable components: Tear the plastic window out of envelopes. Take staples out of large stacks of paper. Strip packing tape off cardboard boxes.
Proper preparation takes an extra minute but saves hours of work at the processing facility. Clean, sorted materials are worth more to recyclers and are far more likely to actually get reused instead of landfilled.
Most curbside programs don't accept shredded paper because the small pieces fall through sorting equipment. However, you can bring bagged shredded paper to some drop-off centers. All County Recycling offers destruction services for confidential documents that need secure shredding and recycling.
Broken glass is dangerous for sanitation workers and can contaminate other recyclables. Wrap it carefully in newspaper, place it in a sealed bag or box, and throw it in the regular trash. Don't put loose broken glass in your recycling bin.
No. While All County Recycling processes plastics numbered 1 through 7, not all municipalities accept every type. Check your local guidelines, as some towns only take plastics #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE), commonly found in bottles and jugs.
Break down boxes, remove any packing tape and plastic inserts, and place them in your recycling bin. For large quantities—like after moving to a new home in Hamilton or clearing out a storage unit near Princeton—contact All County Recycling at (609) 393-6445 to arrange drop-off or pickup.
Many electronics contain hazardous materials and can't go in regular bins. Mercer County hosts periodic e-waste collection events. You can also check with retail stores like Best Buy, which often accept old electronics for recycling.
After collection, materials go to a recycling center where they're sorted, cleaned, and compressed into bales. These bales are sold to manufacturers who turn them into new products. At All County Recycling's Trenton facility, over 3,000 tons of material are processed and marketed each month.
No. The recycling process removes labels during washing and processing. Just rinse the container and recycle it with the label still attached.
Recycling doesn't have to be complicated. Rinse your containers, know what your local center accepts, and ask questions when you're unsure. Small efforts add up—when done correctly, recycling reduces landfill waste, conserves natural resources, and supports a cleaner environment for everyone in New Jersey.
Your local recycling center is your best resource. The team at All County Recycling has been helping Mercer County residents and businesses recycle correctly since they opened their doors. They process materials from standard office paper to industrial plastics, and they're always available to answer your questions.
Stop guessing and start recycling with confidence. Call All County Recycling at (609) 393-6445 today to learn exactly what you can recycle and how to prepare it correctly.
