​​There are many common household materials that can be donated, reused or taken to a scrap dealer for recycling that are not appropriate for your County recycling cart.





Use the provided links to view short videos about those items that are the

Worst Offenders

Film or Foam Plastics - that means plastic bags, bubble wrap, pool covers and anything made from Styrofoam.

Other Random Plastics - that means toys, hangers, packing peanuts, garden hoses, etc. (If it's not a container marked #1 -#7, don't put it in your recycle bin.)

"Stringy Things" - Also called "tanglers" - that means hoses, ropes, wires, strands of lights, etc.

Clothing - clothing, including shoes, is a reuse item. Donate, sell, trade, upcycle, use for rags...just don't put clothing in the recycle bin.

Scrap Metal - the only metal items that belong in your recycle bin are aluminum or metal cans and their lids. There is a list below of local metal recyclers who accept scrap metal.

Do Not Recycle

  • Aluminum: pots and pans, cooking utensils, door screens, lawn furniture, foil or disposable pans
  • Glass: medicine bottles, dishes, drinking glasses, windows and mirrors, cookware (such as Pyrex or Corningware​)
  • Metal: tools, car parts, license plates, cutlery
  • Paper: shredded paper, paper packaging with wax layer such as in juice boxes or waxed cardboard
  • Plastic: plastic bags, pool chemical bottles, motor oil and antifreeze containers, household chemical waste containers, flower pots (except black #2), medicine vials, egg cartons, polystyrene trays, newspaper sleeves, Styrofoam
  • Rubber: hoses, tubing
  • Clothing
  • Food scraps
  • Toys

These items need to be disposed of with the regular household garbage. Please note that most grocery stores have a recycling container to return clean plastic bags as well as Styrofoam egg cartons and clean meat trays.​

If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to call one of our friendly customer service representatives at 239-533-8000.

​business​address​phone number
​All Scrap Recycling​2021 Ortiz Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33905
​10171 Betsy Pkwy.
Saint James City, FL 33956
​Allied Recycling

​3770 Veronica S. Shoemaker

Fort Myers, FL 33916

​Garden Street Iron & Metal​3550 Old Metro Pkwy.
Fort Myers, FL 33916

What's wrong with these recycling containers?


Recycle Cart Contaminated with Plastic Film.jpg 

 Plastic film DOES NOT go in the recycle cart.
Place it with your regular trash and we will turn it into electricity.


Recycle Cart Contaminated with Garbage.JPG
Car mats go in the garbage --
not the recycle cart.
Recycle Cart Contaminated with Yard Waste.JPG
Yard Waste is decomposable and will be reused  but does not belong  
in your recycle cart. Plastic film and
air filters should be placed in the garbage.