To throw away or not to throw away? A guide to Fort Worth’s recycling system

The City of Fort Worth gives free recycling bins despite the fact that recycling is not mandatory.

But if it’s free to start, what’s stopping you?

A survey by the American Chemistry Council found that most Americans avoid the chore entirely because it’s too confusing. However, this lack of knowledge can affect the environment around you.

To start recycling, it only takes a few minutes to understand the do’s and don’ts. The City of Fort Worth has clearly organized a “ know what to throw” campaign to help residents decipher what counts as recycling.

Know what to recycle in Fort Worth

If you are unsure whether something is recyclable, Fort Worth advises, “When in doubt, throw it out.” Items that do not belong in recycling can risk contamination and ruin machinery that processes recyclables.

Waste Management, one of Fort Worth’s trash services, outlines three rules of thumb when recycling: keep food and liquid out, don’t bag your recyclables and recycle cans, bottles, cardboard and paper.

However, you can count on the following items to be considered safe in your blue bin.

• Cans: rinsed out, labels on are okay.

• Paper and cardboard: must be dry.

• All colors of glass bottles: rinsed and cleaned out with labels on.

• Hard plastic containers with lids on: rinsed and emptied out.

These items are not considered as recyclable materials:

• Plastic bags or film: can be recycled at drop off stations but not in a blue bin.

• Garbage bags: Do not bag your recyclables in trash bags; they will then be tossed as waste.

• Hoses, wire, chains and electronic chords: nothing that can tangle easily.

• Clothing or linens: instead, recycle these at a drop-off station.

• Food and liquid

• Diapers

• Sewing needles

• Not-empty aerosol cans

• Propane tanks

• Syringes

• Broken glass or light bulbs

• Polystyrene foam

Taking out your Fort Worth blue bin

If you want your recycling to be picked up, you must display your cans properly .

The City of Fort Worth advises that trash cans be out by 7 a.m. on your trash pick-up day and pulled in by midnight. The lid must be completely closed on your blue bin; otherwise, it will not be picked up .

Place your recycling can in front of your house only. The City of Fort Worth also advises having the handle of your can facing your house so the serial number faces the street. Make sure the can is not too far into the street and only a few inches from the curb.

Following these rules will ensure that your cans will be properly emptied.