Hideaway Community Association (HCA)
Rules for Recyclable Collection

Four (4) fundamental rules

1. 4 item per week limit for TRASH. (UNLIMITED RECYCLABLES)
2. Each item under 40 pounds
3. Each item less than 4 feet long.
4. Put out before 6 am (for Hideaway Community, recylcable day is Thursday; if weather/holiday prevents, pickup will be next day).

Recyclable Items:

• Cardboard
• Glass
• Metal Cans
• Mixed Paper
• Plastic
• Yard Waste
• Christmas Trees

Cardboard

• Cardboard recyclables must be clean.
• Remove food, plastic liners, waxed paper or styrofoam from inside boxes.
• Oops - WAXED CARDBOARD can't be recycled...no recycler wants it. Put it in
• the trash...not with your recyclables.
• Preparation (HOW TO prepare cardboard for curbside collection...)

1.Remove all contents from box.
2.Flatten all boxes (and bundles) to conserve space.
3.Cut boxes to fit into the 2 feet x 4 feet x 6 inch opening in the recycling truck (i.e.,
the size of a large bath towel and thickness of a pillow).
4.Place in paper bags, OR...
Leave flattened cardboard in stack under other recyclables, OR...
Tie or bundle with string (stacked no higher than 6 inches), if preferred

Glass

• Empty contents.
• Rinse lightly
• Remove lids. Label and ring may stay on.
• Mix glass bottles and jars with plastic bottles and cans in plastic see through bags
• to reduce breakage.
• YES we accept...
• any color glass food or beverage containers.
• NO we can't accept...
• window glass
• drinking glasses
• mirrors
• ceramics
• crystal
• fluorescent or light bulbs
• CorningWare, or Pyrex

Metal Cans

• Empty contents
• Rinse lightly. Crush if possible. Label may stay on, but paper labels are recyclable!
• Remove lids and put in trash (OUCH! Lids cut our friends at the Recycling Center)
• Mix metal cans with glass and plastic bottles in see through, plastic bags to reduce glass breakage.
• YES we accept...
• Aluminum, steel & tin cans. This includes drink and food (even pet food!)
• ALL EMPTY AEROSOL CANS.
• NO we can't accept...
• foil or pie trays
• propane cylinders
• siding
• beach or lawn chairs
• pots, pans or other scrap metal
• motor oil or other automotive fluid cans

Mixed Paper

• Paper recyclables must be clean. Remove food, plastic liners, waxed paper or styrofoam from inside boxes.
• OOPS - your pizza boxes, egg cartons, paper plates and paper towels can't be recycled...they are contaminated and the Recycling Program cannot accept these items. Put them in the trash...not your recycling bag!
• YES we accept...
• newspapers & inserts
• phone books
• junk mail (even window envelopes)
• CLEAN and EMPTY food & snack boxes
• text books
• greeting cards
• gift wrap
• mail order catalogs
• magazines
• paper towel & toilet paper tubes
• household paperboard boxes
• AND MUCH MORE.... Call 313-SORT if you have a question about a paper product
• NO we can't accept...
• food contaminated boxes such as pizza boxes or egg cartons
• plastic bags or wrappers, or other waxed paper or boxes
• styrofoam
• paper towels
• tissues
• paper plates or cups
• foil type gift wrap

Plastics

• Empty contents.
• Rinse lightly.
• Remove lids and crush. Label and ring may stay on.
• Mix plastic bottles with glass and cans in see through, plastic bags to reduce glass
• breakage.
• REUSE or RECYCLE extra plastic bags at a nearby grocery store that recycles plastics bags!
• YES we accept...
• plastic bottles
• milk jugs
• soda bottles
• laundry detergent
• salad dressing
• cooking oil
• shampoo
• cleaning bottles
• NO we can't accept...
• margarine or yogurt containers
• plastic trays
• toys
• cups
• flower pots
• styrofoam
• extra plastic bags
• motor oil, pesticide or solvent bottles

Yard Waste - Seasonal Curbside Collection (April 1 thrrough December 31)

In these areas, Howard County will be collecting grass, leaves and small brush ONLY on
your scheduled recycling day from April 1 - December 31. These items will not be
picked up on your TRASH collection day, but instead will be tagged with a sticker
explaining that yard waste is collected on your recycling day. Many western Howard
County residents are already solving the BACKYARD CHALLENGE by grasscycling or
backyard composting (see SEASONAL SOLUTIONS.) To see if you are in the service
area, call (410) 313-SORT.

YES we accept...

• leaves
• grass
• small brush
• small limbs
• hedge clippings
• dry seed pods (such as pine cones or sour gum balls)

• dirt
• sod
• stones
• fruit or vegetables
• man made or miscellaneous materials
• mixed with yard trimmings (such as paper, plastic, glass, stones, metal wire, or

HOW TO prepare yard waste for curbside collection...

1.Place in paper or plastic bags. Leave bags open, or
2.Use open containers such as trash cans, etc. (No cardboard boxes as containers)
and remove lids, or
3.Tie or bundle light brush with string (if preferred)

Christmas Trees (Seasonal Collection - January 2 through January 15)

• Whole trees will be collected as long as they are under 6 feet
• Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half for collection

• Tinsel, icicles and any other ornaments or materials left on tree will not be collected.
• Trees wrapped in plastic bags will not be collected.