Recycling Program

General

All residents and property owners in the City of Norwich must recycle those items listed below:

  1. Antifreeze – Used radiator antifreeze contained in sealable containers.
  2. Cardboard – Corrugated boxes and similar corrugated materials, which have a minimum of contamination by food, or other materials. Flatten or nest boxes when possible. 
  3. Dry batteries - Nickel cadmium and lithium batteries (typically small, rechargeable batteries).
  4. E-Waste (electronic equipment) - TVs, computer equipment, radios, DVDs, VCRs.
  5. Glass food containers – Rinsed glass bottle or jar of any size or shape used to package food products suitable for human or animal consumption.
  6. HDPE (plastic) food containers – Rinsed plastic food container classified as #1 or #2. Items such as plastic milk jugs, water bottles, sour cream/cottage cheese containers, etc.
  7. Magazines and Junk mail – Used or discarded magazines and junk mail.
  8. Metal food containers – Rinsed aluminum, bi-metal, steel, tin-plated steel, or other metallic can, plate or tray of any size or shape used to package food products suitable for human or animal consumption.
  9. Newspaper – Used or discarded newsprint that has a minimum of contamination by food or other materials.
  10. Propane tanks – Unwanted propane tanks, properly drained.
  11. Office paper – Used or discarded office paper including, but not limited to, paper utilized for tab cards, writing, typing, printing, computer printing and photocopying, which is suitable for recycling and has a minimum of contamination.
  12. Scrap metal – Used or discarded items which consist of predominantly ferrous metals, aluminum, brass, tin, copper, lead, chromium, nickel, or alloys thereof including, but not limited to, appliances and other metal products.
  13. Scrap tires – Used or discarded rubber or synthetic rubber tires used by or manufactured for vehicles including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, busses and trailers.
  14. Storage batteries – Lead acid batteries or other batteries used in motor vehicles such as automobiles, boat, tractors and like applications.
  15. Waste oil – Crankcase oil and crankcase oil filters that have been utilized in internal combustion engines.
  16. Yard waste - Grass clippings, leaves and brush can be brought to the transfer station for disposal free of charge.

Curbside Collection of Recyclable Material

The City provides single stream curbside collection for the recyclable materials listed below. Single stream recycling is method of recycling whereby recyclable materials can be co-mingled for collection (i.e., generators are not required to separate recyclable items).

Cardboard – Must not be contaminated by oil, paint, food waste, etc. All inner plastic packaging should be removed

Mixed Containers – All glass, metal, or plastic containers of any size used to package food, cleaning products, etc.

  • must be made of glass, metal, or natural HDPE.
  • mix glass, cans and plastics together.
  • any color #1 or #2 plastic is acceptable
  • any color glass is acceptable
  • no lids on glass jars
  • must be free of food residue (rinsing is requested)
  • no light bulbs, windows, plates, ceramics or mirrors
  • no paint cans, aerosol cans, or scrap metal

Newspaper and Magazines – Used or discarded newsprint, just the way it is purchased

  • may be placed in brown grocery store paper bags
  • do not use brown fertilizer, lime, etc. bags
  • do not use plastic bags
  • may be tied with string, but no wire, nylon, belts, etc.
  • no contamination by food, oil, paint, etc.

Office paper – Used or discarded paper including typing, writing, tab cards, printing, computer printing and photocopying.

  • shredded is NOT acceptable
  • no contamination by paint, food, chemicals, etc.
  • white paper reports must have binders removed
  • small staples are acceptable, but no paper clips

Materials not collected in the weekly curbside collection program must be taken to the Transfer Station on Rogers Road (such as fluorescent light bulbs, aerosol cans, propane tanks, etc.).

Non-Residential Recycling Program

This section applies to non-residential generators (a.k.a, commercial generators), as defined in Section II. Each location/structure is classified by its use. An apartment complex with five (5) or less units would be residential, while a real estate office, government office, or hospital would be considered non-residential.

Separation and Handling

Each commercial generator must separate all recyclable materials from their solid waste stream. All recycled material must be transferred to a hauler, processor, or transfer station that recycles all required materials.

Commercial Recycling Plan 

Each commercial generator must identify which recyclable materials it generates and establish a plan to separate and handle these materials. If requested by the Director a commercial generator (by location) must submit a plan to the Director within sixty (60) days of receipt of a request for such a plan. The plan must identify all recyclable materials the facility generates and how these materials will be handled and collected.

The Director or his designee will review the plan for compliance with Chapter 9 of the City Code of Ordinances, approve or reject it, and notify the generator. If a generator’s plan is rejected it must be resubmitted within thirty (30) days of notice of rejection.

The Director will assure that the generator is monitored for compliance to the approved plan. If the Director or his designee determines that the generator is not in compliance with Chapter 9 of the City Code of Ordinances, the Director may enforce the penalties provided.

The lack of an approved plan does not relieve the generator from compliance with the City’s Code of Ordinances or this plan.

Commercial Recycling Services provided by the City 

The City will provide the following services to assist in the recycling effort by commercial generators. The generator is not required to use these services nor is the City required to provide these services if the Director or his designee feel that providing the service to a specific generator would place an undo burden on the City (Example: Multiple pickup locations results in increase hauler costs).

Curbside Collection Service 

The City may provide weekly curbside collection. The Director or his designee will determine which commercial generators can be reasonably serviced by curbside collection. Conditions of collection include, but are not limited to:

  1. Commercial generator must follow same basic program as residential generators.
  2. Quantities for collection must be similar to residential generator.

Note: Large commercial generators may be charged for containers if determined appropriate by the Director

Transfer Station 

The City’s Rogers Road Transfer Station accepts recyclable materials from commercial generators. It is the generator’s responsibility to provide all transportation to the facility.