ecomaine

Maine's Leader in Sustainable Waste Management

Recycling 101

At ecomaine, we’re committed to making recycling simple, smart, and sustainable for every community we serve.

Your guide to recycling right

Recycling 101 is your quick, trustworthy resource to understand what goes in the bin, what stays out, and how your everyday choices help protect Maine’s environment. For quick, trusted answers about what belongs in your bin, explore the ecomaine Recyclopedia.

Explore the Recyclopedia

Why Recycling With ecomaine Matters

When you recycle correctly, you’re doing more than clearing out your kitchen bin, you’re helping conserve natural resources, reduce emissions, and support a healthier, circular economy. Ecomaine works to ensure that your recyclables are directed to the appropriate facilities, where they are remade into new, usable products while minimizing reliance on landfills.

Small actions. Big impact. That’s the power of recycling right.

The Big Four: What We Can Recycle Together

Our single-sort system is designed to make recycling as easy as possible. Everything that belongs in your bin fits into these four core categories:

Paper & Cardboard

Newspapers, magazines, office paper, envelopes, paper bags, cereal boxes, and corrugated cardboard (flattened).
If it tears like paper, it likely belongs here.

Metal Cans

Aluminum drink cans, steel food cans, and clean tin containers.
Give them a quick rinse to keep the system running smoothly.

Plastic Containers

Bottles, jugs, and tubs. Especially those containers with a neck or a screw-top lid.
Remember: empty, clean, and dry keeps contamination low.

Glass Bottles & Jars

Clear, green, or brown glass containers.
Lids off, contents emptied, quick rinse encouraged.

Recycling the ecomaine Way: Simple Steps, Big Results

A few easy habits help ensure your recycling really gets recycled:

  • Empty, clean, dry: reduces contamination

  • Flatten cardboard to maximize space

  • Keep recyclables loose in the bin

  • Ask before you toss! When in doubt, check the Recyclopedia

Recycle Right: A Second Life for Items that Don’t go in Single-Sort

Many items are recyclable – but not in your curbside bins. These items can’t be recycled at ecomaine, so keep these items out of your single-sort recycling. Instead, use our guide below to find a safe recycling solution.

Loader image

For clothing and textiles in any condition – including stained, torn and unwearable items, can be donated to Apparel Impact in one of their drop-off bins.

In-season clothing in excellent condition can be donated to Maine Needs in Portland. They take many unopened toiletries and household items as well. Their list of accepted items is subject to change. Review the list prior to each donation here.

Other clothing and household textiles in wearable condition can be donated to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or local thrift and consignment shops.

Some animal shelters accept bedding, pillows, and stuffed animals. Contact Midcoast Humane, Animal Refuge League, or search for your local animal shelter.

Materials in good condition can be brought to Habitat for Humanity.

Materials in any condition can be brought to Riverside Recycling.

See a list of fluorescent light bulb recycling sites here.

Depending on the age and condition of your furniture, it may have a second life with a new owner. Consider some of these options:

Furniture Friends is an organization that provides donated furniture (in good condition) to low-income community members for free. See their list of acceptable items here.

 

Habitat for Humanity Re-Store accepts furniture in good condition (no rips, stains, holes, or damage) for resale in their store. See their list of acceptable items here.

 

The Salvation Army accepts furniture donations and provides an extensive list of donation drop-off points, including many transfer stations. See the list of drop-off locations here.

 

Goodwill accepts furniture in a range of conditions. See their list of acceptable items here.

Explore your local Buy Nothing group, or list things for free on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to offer items to neighbors.

GiveITGetIT  is an organization that recovers, refurbishes, and redistributes business-class computers to nonprofits, disadvantaged families, and individuals. Bring your items to their free drop-off location in Waterville.

Goodwill will refurbish and redistribute the tech that they can, and will recycle the rest, keeping e-waste out of the landfill.

Target will refurbish or recycle small electronic devices (MP3, mobile phones, GPS devices, etc.). Their recycling drop-off bins are located at the front of participating stores.

Best Buy and Staples offer discounts on products when you recycle e-waste in store.

Computer-Be-Gone offers e-waste pick-up services in Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, Falmouth, and Cape Elizabeth (other towns available for a fee).

MED-Project is an organization that provides free drug disposal services. See drop-off and mail-in information here.

CVS offers medication disposal locations. See the list of drop-boxes here.

thermostat-recycle.org provides a list of mercury thermostat buy-back locations.

VIP offers liquid oil recycling services (up to 12 quarts).

Larger quantities (more than household amount) can be recycled with Clean Harbors.

PaintCare offers paint recycling drop-off sites across Maine. The recovered paint is either reused or recycled. See their list of locations here.

Many retailers and grocery stores (Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Market Basket, Shaw's, Hannaford, etc.) have film plastic disposal bins in-stores for free drop-off. Visit plasticfilmrecycling.org for locations.

Participate in the NexTrex  Recycling Challenge (collect 1,000 lbs. of film plastics in 12 months and receive a park bench for your community or organization)

Contact SolarCycle or The Solar Recycling Company for recycling options.

VIP recycling  will accept up to four tires per visit, at a cost of $5.50 per tire.

BDS Tire Recycling will pick up for larger quantities (50 minimum).

Together, We’re Building a Cleaner Maine

Every correct item in your recycling bin supports ecomaine’s mission to reduce waste, recover valuable materials, and create a more sustainable future for our communities. Your efforts matter, and we’re here to make recycling easier, clearer, and more effective than ever.

Recycle right with ecomaine. When we all do our part, Maine thrives.