Material Preparation Instructions
Proper material preparation increases the value of recyclable items like paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Be sure to follow the easy instructions below.
NOTE: All of these materials accepted at the Frankfort-Elberta High School. Cardboard and paper products ONLY are accepted at the Benzie Central High School. See Benzie County Recyclers HOME PAGE for details.
| Materials | Acceptable Items | How to Prepare | Unacceptable Items | |||
| Office paper | White paper White ruled paper Colored paper Fax paper, NCR Envelopes | Remove paper clips Place in bag or box | Crayoned or painted paper Carbon paper Tissue | |||
 | ||||||
| Newspaper and magazines | | Newspaper print Magazines Glossy catalogs Glossy flyers Glossy brochures | | Collect newspaper, magazines, and glossy material. Place in paper bags or boxes. | | Materials bound with string or twine Colored office paper |
| ||||||
| Boxboard | Cereal boxes Dry food poxes Shoe boxes Paper towel rolls Tissue Boxes | Remove and discard liners, cellophane, or metal strip. Flatten all sides. Places in paper box or bag. | Refrigerated or frozen food boxes Wax coated milk cartons Laundry soap boxes | |||
| ||||||
| Corrugated cardboard | Corrugated boxes less than 2' x 2' Brown paper bags | Remove and discard tape. Flatten. | Pizza boxes Wax-coated boxes Plastic lined boxes Food saturated boxes | |||
| Glass | Clear jars and bottles Food and beverage containers | Rinse clean. Labels may stay. Remove metal lid or ring and include with other recyclables. | NO window or plate glass, broken glass, light bulbs Blue glass or Pyrex Drinking glasses Ceramic or dishes | |||
| ||||||
| Plastics: #1 PETE #2 HDPE | Clear plastic bottles Plastic milk jugs Colored detergent or shampoo bottles #2 must have seam across bottom of container | Rinse clean Labels may stay Remove and discard caps Flatten | Plastic grocery bags Brittle/crinkled plastic Tub containers or any with dimple on bottom Oil or antifreeze jugs | |||
| ||||||
| Aluminum | Aluminum foil Aluminum pie & food trays Aluminum cans | Rinse clean Remove any paper | Dirty foil Foil-coated wrappers Coffee brick wrappers | |||
| ||||||
| Steel tin cans | Food and beverage containers | Rinse clean Remove paper labels Remove ends if possible Flatten and tuck lids inside | Paint cans Aerosol cans Dirty cans Wire or scrap metal | |||