Frequently Asked

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Is Sedona Recycles owned/operated by the City of Sedona?
Is Sedona Recycles affiliated with Verde Earthworks curbside
recyclers?

Where can I recycle?
What can I recycle?
Who can use the Sedona Recycles drop-off sites?
How should I sort my recyclables?
What can I put in the bin for Clothing, Shoes, Toys, and
Small Household Items?

Can lids be recycled?
Do I need to clean out my bottles and cans before recycling
them?

Can I recycle a bottle that contained motor oil?
Are aerosol cans recyclable?
Can I recycle empty small propane bottles?
How should I recycle shredded paper?
Does Sedona Recycles take paint, chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, or other hazardous waste?
Where can I recycle batteries?
Where can I recycle electronics?
Does Sedona Recycles accept plastic bags?
Does Sedona Recycles accept Styrofoam?
Does Sedona Recycles accept milk/juice (waxed) cartons?
Does Sedona Recycles accept soy milk/broth (aseptic,
TetraPak) containers?

Does Sedona Recycles accept plate (window) glass?
Why can plastic and cans be recycled in the same bin?

Where can I take food scraps and yard waste?
I need moving boxes; can I get some from Sedona Recycles?
I saw a cat when I was at Sedona Recycles; who takes care of
her?

Don’t see your question? Contact us.

Is Sedona Recycles owned/operated by the City of Sedona?

No. Sedona Recycles is a nonprofit organization founded by three Sedona women in 1989. Sedona Recycles does receive compensation for contracted services from City of Sedona, Town of Jerome, Town of Clarkdale, Yavapai Apache Nation, and Yavapai County, but none of these entities are involved with running our operation.

Is Sedona Recycles affiliated with Verde Earthworks curbside recyclers?

No. Sedona Recycles is not affiliated with any curbside recycler or waste hauler. Kate Blevins, owner of Verde Earthworks, was one of the founders of Sedona Recycles and served as Executive Director of Sedona Recycles until 2007.

Where can I recycle?

We have 22 free 24-hour recycling drop-off sites throughout the Verde Valley. You can find the closest one here. We are always looking for new locations to provide this free service; please contact us if you are interested in hosting a drop-off site.

What can I recycle?

Check out our Recycling Guide to see what we do and do not accept.

Who can use the Sedona Recycles drop-off sites?

Anyone! Residents, visitors, and businesses are all welcome to use our drop-off sites, free of charge, 24 hours a day.

How should I sort my recyclables?

We collect our recyclable in five different bins:

  • Cardboard – includes corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags,
    and paperboard
  • Paper – includes newspaper, magazines, office paper, junk
    mail, shredded paper (bagged), and phonebooks
  • Clear Glass – bottles and jars only
  • Colored Glass – bottles and jars only
  • Plastic and Cans – includes aluminum cans, steel cans, and
    plastics #1-7 (bottles, tubs, pots, cups, etc.)

What can I put in the bin for Clothing, Shoes, Toys, and Small Household Items?

Any quality material is acceptable. Stained or torn clothing, single socks and shoes, and scratched pots and pans are okay. Most items are sent to those in need overseas, but items in extremely poor condition are recycled into rags and other items. If your items won’t fit in the bin, don’t leave them.

Can lids be recycled?

Yes. You can leave your lids on any plastic container you recycle. In the old days, balers were too weak to compress a bottle with the lid screwed on, but our new strong baler can compact them just fine. Steel lids from glass jars and bottles can go in the Plastic and Cans bin.

Do I need to clean out my bottles and cans before recycling them?

A little rinse goes a long way towards keeping Sedona Recycles clean and fresh. You don’t need to worry about scrubbing every bit of peanut butter out of the jar, but please empty your containers and give them a quick rinse. Remember, every piece of metal and plastic we receive is handled by our employees, so try to recycle your items in a way that you wouldn’t mind handling after a few days outside.

Can I recycle a bottle that contained motor oil?

Yes. As long as the bottle is empty, we can recycle it. It’s okay if there is still a tiny bit of oil in the bottle, so don’t rinse it out. Let’s keep our waterways clean! And remember, you can recycle used motor oil at most automotive shops.

Are aerosol cans recyclable?

Yes. Aerosol cans are made of steel and can be recycled in the Plastic and Cans bin.

Can I recycle empty small propane bottles?

Yes. Small propane bottles are made of steel and can be recycled in the Plastic and Cans bin. Please make sure your bottles are empty before recycling.

How should I recycle shredded paper?

Please keep your shredded paper in a plastic bag to prevent litter. We will open the plastic bag once we are ready to bale the paper inside.

Does Sedona Recycles take paint, chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, or other hazardous waste?

No. If you live in Coconino County you can dispose of these items, free of charge, at the Hazardous Products Center in Flagstaff. Yavapai County residents have no way to dispose of this waste safely. Please call Yavapai County Solid Waste Department at (928) 771-3183 to find out about upcoming hazardous waste collection events and urge them to offer this service year round.

For more information about disposing of hazardous waste and other items, check out our A-Z Reuse and Disposal Guide.

Where can I recycle batteries?

Batteries collected in the lobby of Sedona Recycles during business hours. Please use the battery recycling station to weigh and sort your batteries. We request a donation of $1 per pound to cover the costs of shipping and recycling batteries. More information about battery recycling is available here.

Auto batteries can be recycled at local automotive parts stores.

Where can I recycle electronics?

Sedona Recycles accepts all household electronics (except large appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators) at our facility during business hours. Even items like hairdryers and VHS tapes can be recycled! Check out our electronic recycling page for more information. Other electronic recyclers can be found in our A-Z Reuse and Disposal Guide.

Does Sedona Recycles accept plastic bags?

No. All local grocery stores recycle plastic bags, so please take your bags to your favorite store. You can even include dry-cleaning bags, Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, cereal bags, and most other film plastics.

Sedona Recycles doesn’t take plastic bags because they make a big mess at our outdoor facility, blowing away and littering Carroll Canyon wash and contaminating our other products. We do our best to recycle the bags that we do receive – we take them to the local Bashas’ store – but we appreciate your help in keeping Sedona Recycles bag-free.

Does Sedona Recycles accept Styrofoam?

Yes and no. We now accept polystyrene blocks and sheets at our Sedona facility from 8am-4pm daily. Only dry, clean blocks and sheets are accepted. These materials are most commonly found as coolers and packaging material.

We also accept Styrofoam packing peanuts and egg cartons for reuse at our facility in Sedona only. Please bring these items inside the facility during business hours.

We cannot accept any polystyrene cups, plates, bowls, to-go boxes. etc. We do not accept any polystyrene products at our satellite drop-off locations or deposited in our Plastics & Cans bins due to contamination.

Does Sedona Recycles accept milk/juice (waxed) cartons?

No. We are constantly looking for ways to take additional items. Sadly, recycling is dependent on markets and we first have to find a buyer before we can begin taking new materials. Waxed cartons are difficult to recycle because the wax can clog machinery and stain recycled paper. We are still looking for a way to recycle this, so check back often.

Does Sedona Recycles accept soy milk/broth (aseptic, TetraPak) containers?

No. Aseptic containers are complicated to recycle because they are made of paper, plastic, and aluminum sandwiched together, so we are having a difficult time finding an outlet to recycle them. Recycling is dependent on markets and we first have to find a buyer before we can begin taking new materials. As soon as we find an appropriate buyer for aseptic packaging we will begin taking it. Stay tuned!

Does Sedona Recycles accept plate (window) glass?

No. Plate glass is compositionally different from bottle glass and cannot be recycled at Sedona Recycles. Sadly, there is no place locally to recycle plate glass, so it should just go in the garbage.

Why can plastic and cans be recycled in the same bin?

Plastic and cans are sorted on our material sorting line every day from 8:30-12:30. Separation of these materials, especially plastics, can be complicated, so we do the hard work for you!

We sort our mixed plastics and cans into the following categories: aluminum cans, steel cans, frosted #2 plastic bottles (milk jugs), colored #2 plastic bottles (detergent-type), bottle-shaped #1 plastic, and non-bottle shaped plastics #1-#7. By sorting these materials ourselves, we can ensure the highest quality material with little to no contamination.

Where can I take food scraps and yard waste?

To your backyard compost pile! There is no public compost facility in Yavapai or Coconino counties, so it’s up to the public to compost their food and yard waste. Learn more about composting here.

Large quantities of yard waste should be taken to one of the local transfer stations.

I need moving boxes; can I get some from Sedona Recycles?

Absolutely. Feel free to take as many boxes from the bins as you need. We do not set aside boxes, so it’s up to you to find the boxes you like.

I saw some cats when I was at Sedona Recycles; who takes care of them?

We now have seven cats living at Sedona Recycles. We feed and care for them and have had them all spayed and neutered. Sammy, an orange tabby, is the most friendly. You may even find him inside the office when you visit. Most of the cats living at Sedona Recycles are available for adoption and would love to have a good home. Please contact us if you are interested in adopting a recycling cat.

Our beloved cat, Malika, passed away in November 2012. Read more about her in this memorial.