Can you recycle plastic bags in Washington, DC?

Not in your recycling (blue). Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility DC Department of Public Works uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash (black/green).

What do I do with batteries in Washington, DC?

Batteries never go in any of your Washington, DC carts — not the recycling (blue), not the trash (black/green). They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Recycling rules in Washington, DC

📍 DC Department of Public Works · 2-cart program

Who collects your recycling in Washington, DC

Washington, DC collects its own residential waste: DC Department of Public Works operates the carts directly rather than contracting the route to a private hauler. Households get two carts — a recycling (blue) for recyclables and a trash (black/green) for everything else. There is no curbside compost cart, so food scraps and food-soiled paper go in the trash (black/green).

That two-cart setup is the norm for most of the country — curbside food-scrap collection remains rare outside California and a handful of West Coast and Northeast cities.

The quick answer for Washington, DC

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Recycling (blue)	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Recycling (blue)	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Recycling (blue)	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Recycling (blue)	Lids off.
Food scraps	🗑️ Trash (black/green)	No curbside compost cart here.
Greasy pizza box	🗑️ Trash (black/green)	No curbside compost cart here.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Trash (black/green)	Store drop-off is better.
Batteries	⚠️ Hazardous	Never curbside — tape the terminals.

This is the short list. The full A–Z of what is and isn't recyclable is on what can I recycle? — or scan the item and get the answer for Washington, DC directly.

📷 Scan an item

Washington, DC recycling FAQ

Can you recycle plastic bags in Washington, DC?: Not in your recycling (blue). Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility DC Department of Public Works uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash (black/green).
What do I do with batteries in Washington, DC?: Batteries never go in any of your Washington, DC carts — not the recycling (blue), not the trash (black/green). They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

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Still not sure?

Rules vary by material and by hauler, and the sorting line is strict — one wrong item can contaminate a whole load. When in doubt, point your camera at the item for a verdict, or check the official DC Department of Public Works guide.