(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is another in a series of recycling tips from the City of Covington's Neighborhood Services Department, Solid Waste & Recycling Division.)

COVINGTON, Ky. – No, we’re not asking that you recycle used Kleenex, nor to melt all those slivers of soap to make one big bar of soap (although we hear tales of such things). 

• But we ARE here to reduce the confusion for you on what can and can’t be recycled from everyone’s favorite room in the house.
• Bottles, jugs and tubs are recyclable – but wash them out first. This includes shampoo, lotion and soap bottles; refillable soap jugs; and face lotion and hair product tubs. Baby powder too. Replace the cap after you rinse it.
• Cardboard such as tissue boxes and bandage boxes can be recycled too – and don’t forget the cardboard tube when you use that last square of two-ply. And don’t be lazy: When you tear off that little piece of cardboard to open tissue boxes, recycle that too!
• Containers such as squeeze tubes that are made from multi-layered or multiple material are not recyclable. That means toothpaste tubes, hand lotion tubes etc.
• If a recyclable container has a pump, throw the pump away before you recycle it.
• RX bottles (those tinted brownish/orangish) are a “no.” But many of the over-the-counter medicine bottles, such as for ibuprofen, can be recycled. Again, remember the shape rule – those smaller at the top are OK to recycle.
• Aerosol hair spray cans can be recycled, but make sure they’re empty, and throw away the plastic cap and plastic spray tip.
• Deodorant sticks? That’s a “no,” no matter if it’s roll-on, glide-on, solid et. al.
• When you open that 4-pack of toilet paper or 3-pack of tissue boxes, the plastic film can be recycled at grocery stores through the Bag-2-Bag® program (but not the City recycling carts).
• And finally, things such as plastic dental floss containers, toothbrushes, and disposable razors are the wrong shape and can’t be recycled. (Hey guys, grow a beard. Then you don’t need to shave.)

Need more information? Look HERE. Or, as usual, send us a question and we’ll forward it to our Solid Waste and Recycling folks.

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