This page contains resources for those who want to learn about how they can recycle even more items beyond their municipal recycling. Please do NOT put these items in the TerraCycle bin, but do feel free to send us more links so that we can all reduce, re-use, and recycle as much as possible!
Find some local recycling options by entering your zip code in the following sites:
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/
- Recyclesmart.com (information on what can/cannot be recycled and why here: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=928325739448213&set=pcb.928326016114852
- plasticfilmrecycling.org (for info on plastic film which can/cannot be recycled see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOz2P3QiP8o)
3.5" Floppy disks may be recycled here: https://www.floppydisk.com/recycle
Check out https://search.earth911.com/?what=CFLs for where you may be able to bring compact fluorescent lights.
Christmas string lights: Check https://momsorganicmarket.com/recycle-center/ and call first to make sure they're still collecting.
Crayons may be sent at your cost to be recycled at https://thecrayoninitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/170623_TCI_Restaurant-Shipping_R00.pdf As of February 2024, Staples has begun to accept crayons for recycling, as well as pens and pencils!
Personal care or cosmetic containers - TerraCycle closed this free brigade - however, if you have access to a Nordstroms, you can bring them there: https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/nordstrom-cares/get-involved/nordstrom-beauty-cycle - there's one at the Burlington Mall as of Spring 2022. PactCollective.org has started opening up collection points as well - see https://www.pactcollective.org/guidelines and follow the links to find the closest point to you.
Pet Food bags: As of Fall 2023 You may recycle all brands of empty flexible plastic pet food and treat bags (of any species of pet!) at participating Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash stores, including the ones in Acton and Littleton MA.
Plastics with #5 on them, including all plastic jar lids and prescription bottles, can be sent at your cost to: Preserve Gimme 5, 823 State Route 13, Cortland, NY 13045-6574 This program is no longer in service.
Plastic plant pots can be recycled at Lowes: https://corporate.lowes.com/newsroom/stories/fresh-thinking/are-you-wishcycler or at Home Depot: https://corporate.homedepot.com/newsroom/plant-it-again-plant-pot-recycling-program
Sudbury runs a Styrofoam/Polystyrene (clean, solid, white packing Styrofoam only) recycling event twice a year (usually October and March/April). No egg cartons, take out containers or food trays. Please remove all packaging tape and paper labels. See the Sudbury sustainability website for information. The collection is done by volunteers and if you'd like to make their lives a lot easier, break your Styrofoam into small pieces (e.g. 4-inches on a side). Doing so also has the added advantage of making it possible to get a bunch of large pieces of Styrofoam into the two 30-gallon trash bags they take for $5.00. HINT: When breaking up large pieces, you can reduce the number of Styrofoam beads that cling to everything thusly: while holding the large piece in your trash bag, keep a damp rag or sponge in one hand when you break the large piece down; it helps defeat the static cling.
Soup, juice, and other tetrapak cartons can be sent at your cost to a carton recycler: https://www.recyclecartons.com/what-to-do-when-your-city-doesnt-recycle-cartons/