Residential Recycling

Franklin County's rate of recycling now exceeds the national average. According to data released by SWACO in 2016, Franklin County's recycling rate is 45% while the national average is 34%. By working together as a community, we've made recycling a priority and easy to do!

Recycling Services

Ninety-six percent of all households have access to curbside recycling (PDF). SWACO also provides recycling drop-off locations throughout Franklin County for public use. SWACO recycling drop-offs are free to the public and include locations at many fire stations, super markets, and Franklin County Metro Parks. Recyclables collected at the recycling drop-off sites are taken to a local material recovery facility where they are sorted, baled and sold to manufacturers.

Remember buying products made of recycled content is an important part of closing the recycling loop!

Listed below are items currently not accepted through this recycling program. For information on how to recycle or dispose of items like batteries, appliances, furniture, tires, motor oil, visit the SWACO Reuse and Recycling Search Tool..

Plastic

Containers that do not have a bottle-neck or a base larger than the top. For example:

Bubble Wrap
Butter Tubs
Disposable Storage Containers
Drinking Cups
Plastic Bags
Plastic Films
Polystyrene foam or "Styrofoam" egg cartons, plates, cups, etc.
Toys
Yogurt Cups

Single Use Plastic Bags
Please be sure to recycle all plastic single-use bags, films, dry-cleaner bags, etc. with a local grocer that provides recycling containers for the collection of these products. Find a participating retailer.

Glass

Any glass not in the shape of a bottle or jar
Ceramics
Light Bulbs
Window or Drinking Glass

Paper

Cups
Egg Cartons
Paper Towels
Plates
Tissues

Drink Pouches

Pouches made of or lined with foil and plastic.

Metals

Any metal not in the shape of a container
Coat Hangers
Steel Scraps

Accepted Materials

Plastic Bottles & Jugs

All plastic bottle-neck containers. Bottle-neck containers have a base larger than the top. Labels and caps do not need to be removed. To ensure that the caps are recycled please be sure to attach to the container. Please rinse bottle-neck containers when necessary. Please be sure to recycle all plastic single-use bags (grocer, retailer, empty sandwich, cereal, bread, and other food storage, etc.), films, dry-cleaner bags, etc. with a local grocer that provides recycling containers for the collection of these products. These materials should not be placed in your home or office recycling containers.

Glass Bottles & Jars

Clear, brown, green, and blue glass bottles and jars in which food and beverage products are packaged. Labels do not need to be removed. Please rinse containers when necessary.

Paper & Cardboard

Brown grocery bags
Chip board
Corrugated cardboard
Frozen food boxes
"Junk" mail
Magazines
Newspaper with ad slicks
Office paper
Phone books

Please flatten cardboard boxes.

Cartons

Gable-top containers and/or paperboard containers containing items such as:

Broth
Egg Substitute
Fabric Softener
Juice
Milk
Soup
Stock

Please rinse all containers and remove lids.

Metal Cans

Aluminum beverage cans, steel and tin cans, and empty aerosol cans
Labels do not need to be removed.
Please rinse containers when necessary.