Daisy Diaz
Recycling Coordinator
David N. Cicilline
Mayor of Providence
Providence Recycling Office
How to Recycle
Each resident can purchase a blue recycle bin and a green recycle bin for $5 each at the Department of Public Works. Need Bins?
The green bin is used for paper. You can put all newspaper, cardboard boxes, and all other paper made materials inside. Large cardboard boxes should be cut down into pieces no larger than 3 x 3 and put out in a paper bag or tied with string. However, paper packaging for frozen foods such as TV dinners must go into the trash, as well as any paper products that have come into contact with food (for example oily pizza boxes).
The blue recycle bins are used to sort plastics, glass, and metals. Some examples of items that can be put into your blue bin are: jugs, juice boxes, soda cans and aluminum foil All plastic bottles and jugs marked with numbers 1 or 2 surrounded by arrows can be recycled (look underneath the bottle to see which one you have). Any bottles or jugs marked with numbers 3 - 7 CANNOT be put into the blue bins. ALL bottle caps should be thrown into the trash because they also CANNOT be recycled.
For a thorough guide to recycling at home, see RI Resource Recovery's printable brochure. This includes information about recycling appliances, tires, cell phones, and every kind of special item.
Get the Guide
For simple, clear information about what you can and can't recycle at home in both English and Spanish, see RI Resource Recovery's printable flyer:
Get the Flyer
For information on how to recycle computers and electronics parts:
(Please note that these items must be brought to the Central Landfill on scheduled Saturdays or by appointment.)
How to recycle computers and Electronics
Department of Public Works Information & Hours
700 Allens Avenue,
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: (401) 467-7950
Hearing Impaired: TDD 831-4327
Illegal Dumping Hotline: 941-3478
Environmental Enforcement: 467-7950
Hours
Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Summer Hours
Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm
