Your Quick Checklist for Recycling Kitchen Glass and Metal

What Goes in the Recycling Bin? A 30-Second Glass and Metal Checklist

If you have a minute, scan this list before you toss anything. Glass jars and bottles, aluminum and steel cans, clean foil, and metal bottle caps are almost always recyclable. Rinse them, dry them, and put them in your bin. That is the core of it.

Do not include broken glassware, Pyrex, or ceramic mugs. Those have different melting points and can ruin a batch of glass recycling. Similarly, leave out greasy foil or cans with food stuck inside. A quick rinse is enough; a full wash is not required.

If your local program is single-stream, all recyclables go in one bin. If you have dual-stream, keep glass separate from paper and plastic. Check your local rules once, then memorize the basics. This checklist covers the common items, so you do not have to guess every time.

Jars and Bottles: When Rinsing and Labels Matter

Empty glass jars from pasta sauce, jam, or pickles are recyclable. Rinse them until no food residue remains. A dry jar with a few crumbs is fine; a sticky, moldy jar is not. Labels do not need to be removed—the recycling facility handles that during sorting.

Metal lids from glass jars are recyclable too, but they are small. If your program requires it, place the lid inside the jar and screw it back on. That keeps the lid from falling through sorting screens. If not, put the lid loose in the bin with other metals.

Do not recycle glass that has been heat-treated, like Pyrex or oven-safe glass bakeware. It melts at a different temperature and can cause the glass batch to crack. Also, skip ceramics, mirrors, and window glass. When in doubt, leave it out.

Cans: Aluminum and Steel—What to Check Before Tossing

Aluminum cans from soda or beer are the most recycled beverage container in the U.S. Steel cans from soup, vegetables, or pet food are also recyclable. Rinse them, crush them if you want to save space, and put them in the bin. Labels are fine to leave on.

Aerosol cans, like whipped cream or cooking spray, are recyclable if they are completely empty. Do not puncture or crush them. If there is any product left, do not put them in the bin. Check with your local program for special handling, as some require them to be separated.

Do not recycle cans that are heavily rusted or have a plastic pour spout (like some oil cans). Those spouts are not recyclable and can contaminate the batch. Empty the can, rinse it, and if the spout is plastic, pop it off and throw it in the trash.

Foil and Bakeware: How Clean Is Clean Enough?

Aluminum foil is recyclable, but only if it is clean. Crumpled foil with food stuck on it is not. Rinse it, let it dry, and then crush it into a ball about the size of your fist. That ball is less likely to get lost in the sorting process.

Pie tins, baking trays, and frozen food trays made of aluminum are recyclable. Scrape off loose food, rinse, and place them in the bin. If they are lined with plastic or have a paper label, remove the label and check if the lining is plastic. If it is, cut it off—or just put the tray in the trash.

Do not recycle foil that has been used for grilling with marinades or for baking with cheese. The residue is hard to remove and can contaminate the aluminum. If it is not clean, it goes in the trash. Better to waste a little foil than to ruin a whole batch.

Lids, Caps, and Small Metal Pieces: Size and Magnet Rules

Metal bottle caps, like those from beer or soda, are recyclable. But they are small and can fall through sorting screens. A simple trick: collect them in a small tin can, like a tuna can, and crimp the top shut. That keeps them together and makes them easier to recycle.

Steel lids from glass jars, like those from pasta sauce, are recyclable. Aluminum pull-tabs from cans are too. If you have a magnet, test them: steel is magnetic, aluminum is not. Both are recyclable, but the magnet test helps you identify what you have if you are unsure.

Do not recycle metal items that are not packaging, like coat hangers, pots, or utensils. Those are not accepted in curbside bins. Take them to a scrap metal facility or a local drop-off that accepts household metal. When in doubt, check with your city's recycling guide.