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How to recycle: Are you aware of these do’s and don’ts?

Happy Earth Day!

Friday is Earth Day! What’s a simple way you can do something that benefits the planet -- today and moving forward?

How about recycling?

Recycling is a big part of helping re-use materials that would otherwise go to the landfill.

The largest area for recycling was temporarily halted in Jacksonville, but people complained, and wanted their city to prove their commitment to our environment, according to Republic Services.

As of April 4, recycling officially returned to Jacksonville.

Republic Services wants to educate people, so that we all “know what to throw.”

Here’s some advice the experts offered:

Make sure you’re putting the right materials in your recycling container — paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles and jugs.

Keep all recyclables free of food and liquid. One dirty item can contaminate an entire truckload, so make sure recyclables are empty, clean, and dry.

Don’t bag it!

Never bag or bundle your recyclables. Items should be placed in the container loose, unless your city has specified otherwise.

Never place these items in your recycling.

They cannot be recycled with your household waste. Make sure you’re putting only reusable materials in your container.

• Appliances

• Batteries

• Bubble wrap

• Christmas lights

• Clothes

• Coat hangers

• Diapers

• Electrical cords

• Food waste

• Food wrap

• Garden hoses

• Household cleaners

• Paint

• Pizza boxes

• Plastic bags

• Polystyrene

• Rubber balls

• Sports equipment

• Syringes/razor blades

• Tires

• Toys/stuffed animals

• Waxed cartons

• Wood/yard waste

Need to dispose of some specialty items?

Go to this Republic Services site for more information on how to recycle items like bulbs, batteries, hazardous household waste and electronics.

For even more information, watch the video above.