Unacceptable Items 

Recycling ONLY acceptable items is critical to our program - a recycling symbol with a number does not reflect the capabilities of local programs. Italicized items indicate acceptance at the Recycling Center but not in a curbside bin. See the respective links for alternative recycling options. For information about the next Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, visit our events page.

  • NO PLASTIC BAGS (reuse, return to participating stores, throw away/landfill)
  • NO PLASTIC FILM, PLASTIC WRAP, PLASTIC “AIR PILLOWS” (return to select stores, throw away/landfill)
  • NO STYROFOAM, FOAM PACKING MATERIAL/PACKING PEANUTS (throw away/landfill)
  • NO CLAMSHELL/HINGED CONTAINERS/PRODUCE BINS (i.e., carry-out containers, berry containers, lettuce bins) (throw away/landfill)
  • NO #6 PLASTICS (throw away/landfill)
  • NO WINDOW GLASS, DRINKING GLASSES, CERAMICS, MIRRORS (donate in good condition, throw away/landfill)
  • NO LIGHT BULBS OF ANY KIND (i.e., fluorescent tubes, CFLs, standard bulbs) (drop off at home improvement stores, or Household Hazardous Waste Takeback Event; do not throw away CFLs in the trash!)
  • NO SCRAP METAL (i.e., car parts, bicycles, chairs, pots, pans, fencing, siding, wire hangers) (donate, repair, recycle acceptable items in scrap metal area of Northern Landfill, throw away/landfill)
  • NO METAL OR PLASTIC HANGERS, HOSES, CORDS, OF ANY KIND (throw away/landfill)
  • NO FOOD or GREASE CONTAMINATED BOXES, WAXED CARDBOARD, PAPER or PLASTIC PLATES, CUPS, STRAWS, or UTENSILS (throw away/landfill)
  • NO TOYS (donate, throw away/landfill)
  • NO FLEXIBLE FLOWERPOTS, PVC PIPING, or TUBING (throw away/landfill)
  • NO AUTOMOTIVE/MOTOR OIL; LIQUIDS or CONTAINERS (accepted at Recycling Center: antifreeze, motor oil, hydraulic oil, diesel, kerosene, transmission fluid; accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events: gas, gas/oil mixes, brake fluid, and steering fluid)
  • NO CHEMICALS or CONTAINERS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, SOLVENTS, STAINS, SEALANTS, PAINT THINNERS, OIL BASED PAINT, KEROSENE, GAS or GAS/OIL MIX, HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS or other HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events, See Household Hazardous Waste page for additional information)
  • NO MEDICATIONS, MEDICAL or BIOHAZARD WASTE (Takeback Events, drop-off at select Police Stations,  See Unwanted Medications page for additional information)
  • NO HARDBACK BOOKS (donate and recycle in good condition at the Book Recycling Bin located at the Recycling Center at the Northern Landfill, throw away/landfill)
  • NO SHREDDED PAPER (reuse, throw away)
  • NO FOOD WASTE (compost; See Composting page for additional information, throw away/landfill)
  • NO DIAPERS, WIPES, TISSUES, NAPKINS, PAPER TOWELS, etc. (throw away/landfill)
  • NO YARD WASTE (drop off at Northern Landfill for recycling, compost; See Composting page for additional information, curbside yard waste collection available in certain municipalities and from select haulers - contact your hauler for information, throw away/landfill)
  • NO MATTRESSES or BOXSPRINGS (dispose of at Northern Landfill, or check online for fee-based recycling options, some municipalities and haulers offer curbside bulk pick-up for disposal - contact your hauler for information)
  • NO TELEVISIONS or COMPUTER MONITORS OF ANY KIND (donate if working, select office supply and electronics retailers can recycle flat-screen TVs and monitors  – call ahead to verify, check online for fee-based recycling options, or dispose of at Northern Landfill)
  • NO WATER-BASED / LATEX PAINT, STAINS, AND SEALANTS (throw away/landfill after hardening or mixing with sufficient amount of absorbent; see Paint page for additional information - contact your hauler for additional details before placing out for trash pick-up, some retailers accept used paint, call ahead to verify availability)
  • NO OIL-BASED PAINT (Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, some retailers accept old/used paint, call ahead to verify availability)
  • NO TIRES (accepted at Northern Landfill)
  • NO BATTERIES (recycling drop-off available at select office supply, home improvement stores, and electronics retailers – call ahead to verify, throw away/landfill; Nickel-Cadmium batteries, NIMH, and Lithium batteries: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, see Batteries page for additional information) 

Landfill disposal at the Northern Landfill is subject to regular tipping fees.

Carroll County does not endorse products, services, or vendors; links are included for informational purposes only.