Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? You’re in the right place! Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our services, policies, and how we do what we do. If there’s anything you don’t see—or if you want more detail—feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to help.
Where can I recycle?
We have three free-to-the-public 24-hour recycling drop-off sites in Sedona. Visit our Drop-Off Location page for the address of each site.
Who can use the Sedona Recycles drop-off sites?
How should I sort my recyclables?
We collect our recyclable in five different bins:
- Cardboard – includes corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags, and paperboard
- Paper – includes newspaper, magazines, office paper, junk mail, shredded paper (bagged), and phonebooks
- Clear Glass – bottles and jars only
- Colored Glass – bottles and jars only
- Plastic and Cans – includes aluminum cans, steel cans, and plastics #1 and #2 in the shape of bottles and jugs.
Can lids be recycled?
No. Please remove all lids and put them in your trash at home. Thank you!
Due to the size, anything smaller than a business card (plastic and metal lids) or thin like a straw can’t be effectively captured during the sorting process. Small lids and straws jam the sorting equipment and are often too small to be efficiently processed.
Do I need to clean out my bottles and cans before recycling them?
Can I recycle a bottle that contained motor oil?
Are empty aerosol cans and small propane bottles recyclable?
How should I recycle shredded paper?
Please keep your shredded paper in a paper bag and put it in the paper recycling bin (not the cardboard bin).
Please don’t dump your shredded paper directly into the paper bin. All those little shreds fall out and blow away, littering the surrounding forest and Carroll Canyon wash.
Does Sedona Recycles take paint, chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, or other hazardous waste?
No. If you live in Coconino County you can dispose of these items, free of charge, at the Hazardous Products Center in Flagstaff.
The City of Sedona and Yavapai County co-host two hazardous waste events each year. These events are for residents of Sedona and unincorporated Yavapai County You can visit this link for upcoming events and list of accepted materials.
Where can I recycle batteries?
Staples accepts batteries free of charge.
Auto batteries can be recycled at local automotive parts stores.
Where can I recycle electronics?
Staples has a full list of electronics they accept for recycling. Best Buy in Flagstaff also accepts some electronics.
Alternatively, the Transfer Stations in Cottonwood and Camp Verde accept electronics.
Does Sedona Recycles accept plastic bags?
No.
Most local grocery stores like Bashas and Safeway recycle plastic bags, so please take your bags to your favorite store. You can even include dry-cleaning bags, Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, and most other soft plastics.
Sedona Recycles doesn’t take plastic bags because they make a big mess at our outdoor facility, blowing away and littering Carroll Canyon wash, contaminating our other products, and getting tangled in our equipment. The bags we pull out of our other materials are so dirty they have to be thrown away. In fact, the majority of the garbage produced at our facility is plastic bags. Please help us recycle these bags instead of sending them to the landfill by taking them directly to the grocery stores that accept them.
Does Sedona Recycles accept Styrofoam?
No. May 31, 2023 was the final day that we accepted polystyrene foam blocks.
We accept packing peanuts and egg cartons for reuse/exchange at our facility in Sedona only. Please bring these items into the facility lobby during business hours (7am to 3pm summer hours).
Does Sedona Recycles accept soy milk/broth (aseptic, TetraPak) containers?
No, we do not accept aseptic or Tetra Pak containers.
Aseptic (Tetra Pak) containers are difficult to recycle because they are made of paper, plastic, and aluminum sandwiched together. Their complex, multi-layered composition of paper, plastic, and aluminum requires specialized facilities and processes that aren’t available to us here in Arizona.
Whenever possible, we recommend choosing products in packaging that’s widely recyclable, like metal cans or glass jars.
Does Sedona Recycles accept plate (window) glass?
Why can plastic and cans be recycled in the same bin?
We sort plastics and cans in-house once a week on our materials sorting line. We sort our mixed plastics and cans into the following categories: aluminum cans, steel cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles (including milk and detergent-type jugs).
By handling this part ourselves, we maintain greater control over the final product and ensure more of your recycling is actually recycled.
Where can I take food scraps and yard waste?
To your backyard compost pile! There is no public compost facility in Yavapai or Coconino counties, but Compost Crowd is a local small business that offers residential food scraps collection service to Sedona and Flagstaff.
Large quantities of yard waste should be taken to one of the local transfer stations.
I need moving boxes; can I get some from Sedona Recycles?
Yes! Reusable boxes are often available in the lobby during business hours for the low fee of $1/box.
You can leave your payment with the staff in the office or in the donation box in the lobby.
I saw some cats when I was at Sedona Recycles; who takes care of them?
We now have two cats living at Sedona Recycles. We feed and care for them and have had them all spayed and neutered.
Our beloved cat, Sammy, passed away in April 2025, and we lost Frankie in March of 2022.