All City of El Paso offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Environmental Services

Recycle Right El Paso

Curbside Recycling

The City's Curbside Recycling Program offers residents an easy and convenient way to reduce waste and contribute to the preservation of our environment. Recyclables are collected every other week, on your regular garbage collection day. Simply place your blue bin next to your gray bin on the day of your collection. Remember to place your blue and gray bin in the proper direction and leave a five-foot spacing between other objects.

If your recycling bin has not been picked up by 3:00 PM on your collection day, please call (915) 212-6000 for an update.

Type in an item to see if it can be recycled, report a problem, find your collection day, and more with the ESD Recycling Helper!

ESD Recycling Helper

Recycling Tips

  • Rinse and clean your recyclables, they should not contain any food or product residue.
  • Do not bag your recyclables, items should remain loose in your blue bin.
  • E-waste does not belong in the blue bin. Recycle electronic waste or E-waste at a Citizen Collection Station.
  • Remember the curbside recycling program does not accept glass or plastic bags.

What is recyclable?

Below is a list of the most common items we use and how to recycle them. Recyclables should not contain food residue; please be kind and rinse.
All of these recyclables go into the blue bin and should not be bagged:

For a complete list visit the ESD Recycling Helper website.

Paper

  • Newspaper and advertising inserts (bags and strings removed)
  • Junk or advertising mail and envelopes
  • All office paper
  • Colored or white paper
  • Paperback and hardback books (all soft, hardcovers should be ripped off)
  • Magazines, catalogs, and phone books
  • Wrapping paper (cannot contain foil or glitter)
  • Paper bags (place 5-6 bags in each bag)
  • Unused paper cups and plates
  • Construction paper and postcards
  • Heavyweight folders
  • Holiday and birthday cards

Cardboard

  • Cereal and dry food boxes (without the liner)
  • Cardboard egg cartons
  • Cardboard boxes
    (Cut up and flattened, free of styrofoam or peanuts)
  • Tissue boxes
  • Kitchen or toilet paper rolls
  • Toothpaste box
  • Shoe boxes (must be empty)
  • Gift boxes (free of wrapping paper, ribbon, or tape)
  • Cracker boxes

Plastic

Don't forget to rinse!

  • Plastics #1 and #2 are accepted (they are labeled on the product)
  • No film or plastic bags

Aluminum/Tin

Make sure they are free of food or liquid residue.

  • Soda and any another aluminum cans
  • Canned food cans and their caps or lids

Not Recyclable

  • Bagged recyclables
  • Textiles
  • Yard waste
  • Food and liquids
  • Glass
  • Pizza boxes
  • Plastic bags & Styrofoam
  • Tanglers such as wires, electronics, hoses