Recycling

A simpler way to recycle more.

  • We make recycling easier—by leading the way in transparent recycling. That lets people put their acceptable recyclables in coloured bins which distinguishes them from one another to allow for quicker and cleaner processing.

What Can You Recycle?

Through advances in recycling technology, you have more options than ever. And it’s a good thing because we need to conserve as much of our resources as possible.

CARDBOARD/PAPER

Most of us use a paper product every day. That’s because paper products make up about 71 million tons (or 29 percent) of the municipal waste stream, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The good news is that more and more Batswana are recycling paper.
 
  • CORRUGATED CARDBOARD
  • MAGAZINES
  • OFFICE PAPER
  • NEWSPAPER
  • PAPER BOARD
  • PHONEBOOKS
  • JUICEBOXES
  • UNCOLLECTED MAIL

GLASS

Most glass bottles and jars produced in the Botswana now contain at least 27% recycled glass – which also saves on energy to produce glass made from new materials. Some glass cannot be made into other products, or doing so is not economically feasible. Find out more about the types of glass and how they are recycled below.

  • CLEAR (FLINT) GLASS
  • BROWN (AMBER) GLASS
  • GREEN (EMERALD) GLASS
 

WHAT NOT TO RECYCLE

Not all glass can be recycled. The following items should not be placed into your recycling bin:

  1. Any glass contaminated with stones, dirt, and food waste
  2. Ceramics, such as dishware, ovenware, and decorative items.
  3. Heat-resistant glass, such as Pyrex.
  4. Mixed colors of broken glass.
  5. Mirror or window glass.
  6. Metal or plastic caps and lids.
  7. Crystal.
  8. Light bulbs: Find out how to recycle here.
  9. Cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) found in some televisions and computer monitors. Find out how to recycle here.

PLASTIC

MAKE SURE IT’S CLEAN!

Does that plastic lunch container still have yesterday’s pizza in it? Don’t recycle it until it’s clean!

One dirty product, or one with food waste still in it, can contaminate an entire bale, containing thousands of pounds of collected plastics.

This can cause thousands of recyclable items to go to a landfill instead of being recycled.

Cleanliness is essential.

WHAT’S ACCEPTED?

Plastics come in a variety of shapes, colors and chemical formulations – all with different recycling needs. The code number does not mean the plastic can be recycled. It is simply a way to identify the resin, or plastic type.

How can you tell what kinds of plastic to put into your recycling bin? The code number on the bottom of your product is not a reliable indicator of whether something can get recycled. Recycle by shape!

Bottles, jars, and jugs – is the best way to know what is accepted.

 See our services for all the assistance you need.