How does recycling work?

Recycling is the process of diverting materials from the landfill and turning them into new products. The economic impact of the Texas recycling industry exceeds $3.3 billion. Recycled materials help conserve natural resources and prevent pollution by reducing the need to collect new natural resources. 

By helping keep your recycling clean and contaminant free, you’re helping extend the life of our landfill, conserve valuable resources, and to create jobs in the U.S. recycling and manufacturing industries.

Remember

  • Recycle your empty, clean and dry bottles, jars, cans, boxes, cartons and papers only.
  • Place recyclables in the cart loose - plastic bags are not accepted in the program and should be taken back to designated collection bins at grocery and retail stores.
  • All recycling should be clean, dry and empty.
  • Do not place plastic bags, food, liquids, diapers, hoses, wires, batteries and to-go containers in the recycle cart.
  • When in doubt, throw it out. It is better to throw away potentially recyclable items than it is to throw garbage into the recycling.

Please check out the Recycling and Education pages to learn more and download a copy of the 2022 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Calendar for more tips and tricks. 


Show All Answers

1. Who do I contact for questions or concerns?
2. I’m new to Garland. How do I start residential garbage or recycling service?
3. When is my trash, recycling and brush bulky goods collection day?
4. How often is my waste and recycling collected?
5. I have a business in Garland, how does City of Garland Commercial Waste Service work?
6. Why wasn't my waste or recycling picked-up?
7. How do I find out about service delays?
8. When and where can I set out my waste?
9. How many trash & recycling containers can I have?
10. Garland Sanitation left a note on my container or door. What does it mean?
11. What can I recycle?
12. Will Garland Sanitation pick-up tree trunks and branches?
13. Will you collect my fencing?
14. I have extra bags of trash that won’t fit into my trash cart. Can I set them out for bulky collection?
15. Will you collect my construction/tear-out materials?
16. How much does it cost to dispose at your facilities?
17. My apartment doesn't offer recycling, what do I do?
18. What can I dispose of where?
19. Where can I dispose of hazardous waste and tires?
20. How does recycling work?