What NOT to Recycle in Hamilton County, Indiana
Last Updated: August 2026
Putting the wrong item in a recycling bin can contaminate otherwise recyclable materials and create problems at recycling facilities. When in doubt, don’t automatically put an item in the recycling bin just because it seems recyclable.
Hamilton County specifically warns residents against “wishcycling” — putting questionable items into recycling and hoping they’ll be accepted.
Quick Answer
Common items that should NOT go into Hamilton County’s regular recycling containers include:
- Plastic bags and plastic wrap
- Styrofoam
- Shredded paper
- Food or food-contaminated containers
- Plastic toys and other large plastic objects
- PVC pipe
- Scrap metal
- Electronics
- Batteries
- Household hazardous waste
- Yard waste
- Window glass, mirrors and drinking glasses
- Ceramics
- Household trash
Some of these materials can still be recycled or properly disposed of elsewhere — they simply don’t belong in ordinary recycling.
Plastic Bags & Plastic Wrap
Don’t put loose plastic bags or plastic film into ordinary recycling containers.
Plastic bags can become tangled in recycling equipment and need to be collected separately.
Hamilton County provides a separate collection option for certain clean plastic bags, wraps and bubble wrap at its General Recycling Area when that collection is available.
Many grocery and retail stores also maintain separate plastic-film recycling bins.
→ View Hamilton County General Recycling Information
Styrofoam
Styrofoam — including foam cups, takeout containers and packing foam — doesn’t belong in Hamilton County’s General Recycling Area containers.
Don’t put it into the cardboard, paper or commingled recycling compactors.
If you have a large amount of packing foam, check with a specialty recycler before throwing it away.
Shredded Paper
Regular clean paper is recyclable at Hamilton County’s General Recycling Area, but shredded paper isn’t accepted.
Small paper shreds are difficult for recycling equipment to sort and can contaminate other recyclable materials.
Don’t put shredded paper into the county’s paper compactor.
→ View General Recycling Area Guidelines
Food & Dirty Containers
Recyclables should be empty and reasonably clean.
Don’t recycle:
- Containers filled with food
- Greasy or heavily contaminated paper
- Food-soaked cardboard
- Containers containing liquids
- Dirty takeout packaging
For example, a clean cardboard pizza box may be recyclable, but greasy or food-covered portions should be removed and thrown away.
Plastic Toys & Large Plastic Items
A plastic item isn’t automatically recyclable just because it’s made of plastic.
Hamilton County’s General Recycling Area accepts appropriate plastic bottles, jugs and small containers, but doesn’t accept large plastic objects such as toys.
Items such as these generally don’t belong in ordinary recycling:
- Plastic toys
- Plastic furniture
- Large storage containers
- Buckets
- PVC pipe
- Other oversized rigid plastics
Check with a specialty recycler or disposal provider for unusually large plastic items.
Scrap Metal
Don’t put scrap metal into ordinary recycling containers.
That includes items such as:
- Metal pipes
- Large metal objects
- Automotive parts
- Metal furniture
- Large pieces of hardware
Scrap-metal recyclers are better equipped to handle these materials.
→ View Disposal & Recycling Vendor List
Batteries
Never assume a battery belongs in your recycling cart.
Rechargeable and lithium-ion batteries are particularly important to keep out of regular trash and recycling because damaged batteries can create a fire hazard.
Hamilton County accepts several types of rechargeable batteries through its Household Hazardous Waste program.
→ Hamilton County Battery Safety & Recycling
Electronics
Computers, televisions and other electronics shouldn’t be placed in ordinary recycling bins.
Hamilton County residents can take many household electronics to the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Center in Noblesville.
Some electronics — particularly televisions — may have a disposal fee.
→ Hamilton County E-Waste Recycling
Hazardous Waste
Never put household chemicals or hazardous materials into recycling containers.
Examples include:
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Solvents
- Paint thinner
- Pool chemicals
- Automotive fluids
- Household chemicals
- Oil-based paint
Hamilton County residents can take many of these materials to the county’s Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Center.
→ View Hazardous Waste Disposal
→ Check Hamilton County Materials Accepted
Glass That Isn’t a Bottle or Jar
Hamilton County accepts glass bottles and jars in a separate glass collection bin at its General Recycling Area.
But that doesn’t mean every type of glass is recyclable there.
Don’t put items such as these into the glass recycling bin:
- Window glass
- Mirrors
- Drinking glasses
- Ceramics
- Cookware
- Light bulbs
These materials are manufactured differently from bottles and jars and can contaminate the glass recycling stream.
Yard Waste
Leaves, branches, grass clippings and other yard debris don’t belong in recycling bins.
Hamilton County’s Household Hazardous Waste Center also doesn’t accept yard waste.
Residents need to use an appropriate yard-waste collection or drop-off option instead.
Household Trash
Hamilton County’s General Recycling Area is not a free household trash drop-off.
Don’t bring bags of garbage and place them into or beside recycling containers.
Items left outside the appropriate containers can be considered illegally dumped.
If you need to dispose of ordinary household garbage or a large amount of unwanted material, check your trash provider or an appropriate disposal facility.
→ View Disposal & Recycling Vendor List
Don’t Leave Unaccepted Items Beside the Bins
If an item isn’t accepted, don’t leave it next to the recycling containers.
Hamilton County states that leaving materials outside the proper containers is considered illegal dumping. The county’s recycling facility is monitored.
If you’re unsure where an item belongs, ask a facility technician or check the county’s accepted-material information before unloading.
→ Hamilton County General Recycling Area
Before You Recycle
A few simple rules can prevent contamination:
- Empty containers before recycling them.
- Keep food and liquids out.
- Flatten cardboard.
- Keep Styrofoam out.
- Don’t put shredded paper in the county paper compactor.
- Keep plastic bags out of ordinary recycling.
- Separate glass bottles and jars when using the county facility.
- Never put batteries or electronics into ordinary recycling.
- Don’t put hazardous chemicals in recycling.
- Don’t leave unwanted items beside recycling bins.
- When you’re unsure, check first instead of wishcycling.
Local Tips
Plastic doesn’t always mean recyclable. Bottles and jugs are very different from toys, PVC and other large plastic objects.
Keep lithium batteries out of recycling. They’re a serious fire hazard when damaged during collection and processing.
Glass has its own bin at the county facility. Don’t put glass bottles and jars into Hamilton County’s commingled recycling compactor.
Don’t bag your recyclables. Put accepted materials loose into the appropriate container unless the facility specifically instructs otherwise.
Check before throwing an unusual item away. Electronics, motor oil, paint, tires and batteries may have a separate disposal or recycling option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can plastic bags go in recycling?
Not in ordinary recycling containers. Plastic bags and film need separate collection because they can tangle in recycling equipment. Hamilton County has a separate collection option for certain clean plastic bags and wraps at its General Recycling Area.
→ Hamilton County General Recycling Area
Can Styrofoam be recycled in Hamilton County?
Styrofoam isn’t accepted in Hamilton County’s regular General Recycling Area containers. Check with a specialty recycler if you have a large amount you want to recycle.
Can shredded paper be recycled?
Hamilton County’s General Recycling Area doesn’t accept shredded paper in its paper recycling compactor.
Can batteries go in recycling?
No. Rechargeable and lithium-ion batteries should never be placed in ordinary curbside recycling.
Can electronics go in my recycling bin?
No. Electronics need separate handling. Hamilton County accepts many household electronics through its HHW program.
Can broken glass go in recycling?
Don’t put window glass, mirrors, drinking glasses, ceramics or other non-container glass into Hamilton County’s glass recycling bin. The county’s glass collection is for bottles and jars.
Can I recycle greasy pizza boxes?
Clean cardboard can be recycled, but food-soiled or heavily greasy portions should be removed and thrown away.
What if I don’t know whether something is recyclable?
Don’t guess. Check Hamilton County’s recycling information or ask a technician at the General Recycling Area. Putting an unaccepted item into recycling can contaminate otherwise recyclable material.
Related Pages
Official Resources
Hamilton County General Recycling Area
Official guidance about accepted recyclables, separate collection containers and materials that shouldn’t be placed in the county’s recycling compactors.
→ View General Recycling Area
Hamilton County Materials Accepted
Find disposal instructions for batteries, electronics, chemicals, paint, automotive products and other materials requiring special handling.
→ View Materials Accepted
Hamilton County Battery Safety & Recycling
County guidance for safely handling and disposing of rechargeable and lithium batteries.
→ View Battery Safety & Recycling
Summary
The biggest recycling rule in Hamilton County is simple: don’t put something in the recycling bin just because you hope it’s recyclable.
Plastic bags, Styrofoam, shredded paper, food waste, large plastic objects, scrap metal, batteries, electronics, hazardous chemicals, yard waste and non-container glass all require another disposal method.
Hamilton County provides separate options for many of these materials, so check the item first and use the correct disposal or recycling program rather than wishcycling.