Vermont Recycling & Composting Initiative

Vermont Recycling & Composting Initiative We work with residents, businesses, institutions, and municipalities to reduce waste and to keep recyclables and food scraps out of the trash.

Do you have a question about composting, recycling, or reducing waste in Vermont? Want to know more about Vermont's waste reduction goals and how it's shaping the future of Vermont? Maybe you have an idea for how to increase composting or recycling participation in your community. Share your questions and ideas here! We welcome dialogue among Vermonters about how to prevent waste, and manage it wi

sely for our health and landscape. Vermont's Recycling & Composting Initiative is hosted by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), part of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. All posted content must comply with DEC’s policy for posting and will be removed if it does not meet the requirements below. The Department reserves the right to remove any post that does not comply with this policy. In addition, the Department also reserves the right to ban individuals who violate any of the guidelines listed below or Facebook’s terms of service. (Read the whole Community Policy in our notes section).

I've seen a lot of quirky and fun things on the backroads of Vermont. This helmet-turned-planter is one of the best reus...
06/01/2026

I've seen a lot of quirky and fun things on the backroads of Vermont. This helmet-turned-planter is one of the best reuse planter ideas I have seen, second only to the old toilet.

What other common objects have you turned into a pot for your plants? Share your creations below ⬇️

Image description: a helmet, being used as a flower pot, is hanging from a mailbox on a dirt road.

What once tumbled wet clothes and now holds burning wood? A washing machine barrel turned into a fire pit, of course!Was...
05/28/2026

What once tumbled wet clothes and now holds burning wood?

A washing machine barrel turned into a fire pit, of course!

Waste Management staff removed the drum from an old washing machine and are now enjoying backyard fires in their very own upcycled fire pit.

There are a lot of tutorials available online!

05/27/2026

For today’s tiny tip for recycling, we’re reminding you of some common “no no nos” (and ya ya yas) of Vermont’s recycling system.

First off - plastics. Plastic bags and black plastics are a “no no no” in our local recycling programs. These materials interfere with plastic sorting technology at the material recovery facilities (where recycling goes to be sorted.)

Next - pizza boxes. Pizza boxes with a little grease residue can still be recycled! Just remove all the pizza crusts!

And finally- metals. Clean and empty tin and aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable. Large metal items like pots and pans can be recycled with scrap metal at many recycling centers, but do not belong in your mixed recycling.

Learn more about recycling at vtrecycles.com

Video description: Destiny’s Child’s hit song “no no no” plays while non-recyclable and recyclable material appears on the screen.

Interested in volunteering for waste outreach at events? Join the new Waste Wizards network!Virtual training on Wednesda...
05/22/2026

Interested in volunteering for waste outreach at events? Join the new Waste Wizards network!

Virtual training on Wednesday, May 27th, 6:00-7:00 PM (recording will be available).

Learn how to:
-Reduce recycling/composting contamination.
-Share local waste reduction resources.
-Conduct community waste outreach.

No experience needed; training and materials provided.

Questions? Email: [email protected] or Call: 802-636-7926

Tiny Tip for Recycling: You can recycle film plastic at special collection sites throughout the state.Find collection si...
05/21/2026

Tiny Tip for Recycling: You can recycle film plastic at special collection sites throughout the state.

Find collection sites: https://plasticfilmrecycling.org/
or find your local resources at www.802Recycles.com

What's film plastic? Think stretchy plastic like grocery bags. Also clean and dry:
Bubble wrap
Shipping envelopes (no silver or paper coating)
Stretch film/Shrink wrap
six-pack rings

Bags:
bread
newspaper
produce
dry cleaning
carry out
Ziplock style
case wrap (like around toilet paper)

No frozen food bags. No compostable plastic. Nothing that "crinkles" instead of stretches.

Never put film plastic in blue-bin mixed single stream recycling--it clogs up the works at the recycling facilities!

05/20/2026

Fun while sorting trash - who knew it was possible? 😝

This past Earth Day, students at the Woodstock Middle School participated in a school-wide trash sort. Students sorted the trash looking for items that should have been composted or recycled, weighed all the materials, and created action plans using the data they collected from the day.

This real time data helped them answer the question - what can we do better as a school to reduce waste, recycle, and compost more?

To the students of Woodstock Middle School, you did a great job getting down and dirty and thinking critically about how you can make change in your community!

Video description: A student dances to a pop song while sorting waste from the school with other classmates.

05/18/2026

Every home has dangerous products, like ones with warning labels containing words like "toxic," "flammable," "reactive," "corrosive".🏠

In Vermont, no matter where you live, you have access to local household hazardous waste collection programs to help you safely and properly dispose of these products.

Visit www.802recycles.com to find your local solid waste management experts and learn more about their household hazardous waste collection program.

Interested in volunteering for waste outreach at events? Join the new Waste Wizards network!
05/15/2026

Interested in volunteering for waste outreach at events? Join the new Waste Wizards network!

Social media versus reality: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is...
05/14/2026

Social media versus reality: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is...

Address

Waste Management & Prevention Division1 National Life Drive, Davis 1
Montpelier, VT
05620

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(802) 828-1138

Website

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