Gainesville

Recycling Guidelines

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Mixed Recycling: Plastic, paper, metal and glass can be comingled together in your single-stream recycling collection

PLASTIC

Look for plastic items labeled #1 - #5.

  • Bath bottles- shampoo, mouthwash, lotion, soap, etc.
  • Beverage & food bottles, jars, and jugs
  • House bottles & jugs- cleaning supplies, detergent, etc.
  • Tubs- yogurt, margarine, etc
  • Remove lids and caps

Remove lids and caps from plastic containers

Plastic, single-serve to-go containers with no food residue

METAL

Look for tin, aluminum and other metal items

  • Aerosol cans
  • Aluminum & steel cans

Aluminum, steel, and empty aerosol cans

PAPER

Look for Paper items

  • Books- telephone books and paperback books
  • Cardboard & pasteboard- flattened moving boxes, food boxes, tissue boxes, and shoeboxes
  • Mixed paper- computer paper, office paper, unwanted mail, flyers, newspaper, magazines, and catalogs
  • Paper bags
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Wrapping paper

Paper can be recycled up to seven times, depending on the quality

Cardboard tubes from wrapping or toilet paper rolls

GLASS

Look for glass food jars and drink bottles

  • Bottles- beverage and food
  • Jars- beverage and food
Bottles and jars (remove lids or caps)
Clean and dry your glass bottles

Mixed Recycling: Plastic, paper, metal and glass can be comingled together in your single-stream recycling collection

Doorstep Recycling Collection
Place acceptable recyclables in a securely tied, see-thru bag, separate from your trash and place in your bin, outside your front door with your scheduled trash collection.

When in Doubt – Toss it Out
Please do not place any unacceptable items in communal recycling containers or in your household recycling bags. Remember, if recycling contains “contaminants” (non-recyclable items or containers not properly cleaned), the whole batch may be rejected and sent to a land fill. When in doubt – best to toss it out!

What can NOT be recycled

  • Plastic bags or plastic wrap
  • Cords or hangers
  • Clamshells
  • Rigid plastics
  • Garbage or food
  • Glass vases or drinking glasses
  • Ceramics
  • Broken glass or mirrors
  • Windows
  • Aluminum foil, pie pans or trays
  • Scrap metal
  • Stainless steel water bottles or thermoses
  • Remove lids and caps
  • Plastic bags, wrap, cups or tubes
  • Styrofoam® materials
  • Plastic clamshells, egg cartons or deli containers
  • Plastic utensils  no microwavable trays
  • Pouches or straws
  • Take-out containers
  • Glossy type gift bags
  • Popcorn or pet food bags
  • Bubble envelopes

Recycle Collection Tips

  • Aerosol cans must be fully empty
  • Flatten boxes into pieces no larger than 4 ft. by 4 ft. remove any plastic film and styrofoam® packing materials.
  • Recycling collection may be centralized to one recycling collection area, or there may be multiple recycling containers distributed around a property. Recycling may be collected in carts or larger dumpster-sized containers. Residents should first contact their property management staff if they have questions about the recycling services available at their property. For additional questions, residents may contact the City of Gainesville’s Solid Waste Division at (352) 334-2330 or [email protected]
  • Multi-family property residents should read through the list of accepted recyclables as indicated on the recycling containers, and only place those accepted materials in with the recycling. When contaminants (items not accepted for recycling) make their way into the recycling stream, it increases the overall processing cost of recyclables. Contaminants cause damage to the expensive sorting equipment at the processing facility and devalue the marketability of the recyclables
  • The Solid Waste Division also provides residential recycling collection for electronic items by appointment and sponsors other recycling programs. The Solid Waste Division is located at 405 NW 39th Avenue with weekday hours from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, except for scheduled holidays

Multifamily-specific highlights. Check with your municipality for the latest guidelines.

All commercially-collected residential properties in the City of Gainesville of five or more units are required to recycle designated materials as specified by the City’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling Ordinance (Chapter 27, Article III, Division 3, Section 27-85 & Section 85-85). All commercially-collected residential properties of five or more units shall establish a recycling program that includes recycling of all designated recyclable materials and is convenient and accessible to the residents.

Solid Waste Division professionals are available to provide technical assistance in starting up recycling programs, reaching compliance with the ordinance, and a listing of recycling collection companies. To contact the Solid Waste Division, please call (352) 334-2330 or email [email protected].

Recycling Collection

Collection Centers
Residents of the City of Gainesville may take their waste and recycling items to the Alachua County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center and any Alachua County Rural Collection Center for free.

  • Alachua/High Springs Rural Collection Center
    16929 NW US Hwy. 441
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 386-454-2563
    Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM on MON, TUE, FRI, & SAT (Closed WED, THU, & SUN)
  • Archer Rural Collection Center
    19401 SW Archer Rd.
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 352-495-3257
    Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM on MON, TUE, FRI, & SAT (Closed WED, THU, & SUN)
  • Fairbanks Rural Collection Center
    9920 NE Waldo Rd.
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 352-334-3873
    Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM on MON, TUE, FRI, & SAT (Closed WED, THU, & SUN)
  • North Central Rural Collection Center
    10714 N State Rd. 121
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 352-334-3875
    Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM on MON, TUE, FRI, & SAT (Closed WED, THU, & SUN)
  • Phifer Rural Collection Center
    117700 SE Hawthorne Rd.
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 352-334-3874
    Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM on MON, TUE, FRI, & SAT (Closed WED, THU, & SUN)
  • Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Center
    5125 NE 63rd Ave.
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 352-334-0172
    Hours: MON-FRI 7 AM to 5 PM, SAT 8 AM to Noon
  • Recycling Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
    5120 NE 63rd Ave.
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 352-548-1341
    Hours: MON-FRI 7 AM to 5 PM, SAT 7 AM to Noon
  • Leveda Brown Environmental Park & Transfer Station
    5115 NE 63rd Ave.
    Gainesville, FL 32609
    Phone: 352-334-0172
    Hours: MON-FRI 7 AM to 5 PM, SAT 7 AM to Noon, Fees may apply

Learn more about recycling in your city.

For more information, please contact:

City of Gainesville Public Works Department
405 NW 39th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32609
Phone: 352-334-2330
Web: Solid Waste Management
Connect with Zero Waste GNV on Facebook and Twitter

This information is not your official community or municipality guidelines. Recycling mandates may change based on the local processing capabilities and shifting markets. Contact your leasing office or local recycling agency to learn more or use the links under the “Recycling Resources"