• Newspaper
• Full-sized sheets of office paper (No shredded or glossy paper)
• Cardboard (flattened)
• Paperboard boxes, from snacks or cereal (flattened)
• Plastic bottles (Numbers 1 and 2)
• Plastic jugs (Numbers 1 and 2)
• Plastic jars (Numbers 1 and 2)
• Aluminum drink cans
• Metal food cans

Look for a recycling symbol on your recyclables. Only plastics with the numbers 1 and 2 within the recycling symbol are acceptable in curbside bins. Make sure all paper is full-sized, or else it will disrupt the recycling process at the recycling facility.

• Glass (Except in Millcreek Township or Harborcreek Township)
• Plastic Bags
• Plastic Tubs / Containers (Numbers 3-7)
• Styrofoam
• Glossy / Shredded Paper
• Anything with food contamination (Pizza boxes and Take-Out containers)

All of the above items are not recyclable in Erie County. When in doubt, throw it out! Don’t contaminate your recyclables with items that do not belong. Many grocery stores have recycling options for used plastic grocery bags.

Municipalities that use Waste Management as their hauler, and provide the WM At Your Door Service to their residents for special material collection: Fairview Township, Girard Borough, Girard Township, Harborcreek Township, Platea Borough, Millcreek Township

Visit https://wmatyourdoor.com/residential/ for more information.

Glass has been phased out of most single-stream recycling programs. Currently, Millcreek Township and Harborcreek Township are the only municipalities that offer glass collection in their curbside recycling. If you want to recycle glass and do not live in those municipalities, you can use one of the many glass drop-off bins throughout Erie County (see Glass Drop-Off Locations).

Acceptable glass items for recycling

• Food and beverage containers
• Fragrance and oils jars
• Candle jars

Pro Waste and Bayfront Glass LLC are the two companies who service Erie County and recycle glass. For more information about large drop-offs or any other glass questions, contact Pro Waste at 814-455-5119 or Bayfront Glass LLC at 814-464-5880.

Free Combined Glass Drop-Off Locations

Serviced by Pro Waste

(All colors of glass can be mixed)

• Borough of Albion
  111 East Pearl Street, Albion, PA 16401
• Washington Township
  11800 Edinboro Road, Edinboro, PA 16412
• Greene Township
  9333 Tate Road, Erie, PA 16509
• Harborcreek Township
  5601 Buffalo Road, Harborcreek, PA 16421
• Borough of Waterford
  30 S East Park Road, Waterford, PA 16441
• Boys and Girls Club
  1515 East Lake Road, Erie, PA 16511
• West Bayfront Parkway
  1 Lawrence Pier, Erie, PA 16507
• North East Township
  10300 West Main, North East, PA 16428
• Venango Township
  9141 Townhall Road, Wattsburg, PA 16442
• Franklin Township
  10411 Route 98, Edinboro, PA 16412
• Glenwood Park
  West 41st St, Erie, PA 16509
• Borough of Girard
  37 Walnut Street, Girard, PA 16417
• Union Township
  7690 Route Pennsylvania, Union City, PA 16438

Free Color-Separated Glass Drop-Off Locations

Serviced by Bayfront Glass

• City of Erie
  1310 East Avenue, Erie, PA, 16503
• City of Erie 
  1341 W 26^th St., Erie, PA, 16508
• Millcreek Township
  1301 East Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA, 16504
• Fairview Township
  7190 W Ridge Rd, Fairview, PA, 16415
• Harborcreek Township
  5414 E Lake Rd, Erie, PA, 16511
• McKean Borough
  8880 Main St., McKean, PA, 16426

If you live in any of the following Act 101 mandated municipalities, either by local ordinance or voluntarily, reach out to your municipal contacts for curbside recycling options:

• Girard Township
• Girard Borough
• Fairview Township
• Millcreek Township
• City of Erie
• Wesleyville Borough
• Harborcreek Township
• North East Borough
• North East Township
• Summit Township
• McKean Borough
• Platea Borough
• Lake City Borough
• Cranesville Borough
• Albion Borough
• Edinboro Borough
• Waterford Borough
• Union City Borough
• Corry City

• Pro Waste Separated Drop-Off
  • 813 East 18th Street, Erie, PA
  • 814-455-5119
• Franklin Recycling Drop-Off Center
  • 10411 Route 98, Edinboro, PA 16412
• Waste Management Drop-off
  • 851 Robinson Road East, Erie, PA
  • https://www.wm.com/us/en/drop-off-locations

• Wesleyville Borough
  • 3398 Woodlawn Ave, Erie, PA 16510
    • Glass and cardboard recycling
• North East Township
  • 10300W Main St, North East, PA 16428
    • Glass and cardboard recycling
• Summit Township
  • 8900 Old French Rd, Erie, PA, 16509
    • Glass recycling

Electronics, specifically TVs and computers, were banned from disposal in landfills due to state legislation that also required the companies making the electronics responsible for offering recycling programs. Unfortunately, this has not only created a difficulty for many residents to find electronics recycling programs, but has made recycling electronics very expensive.

Erie County residents do have some options for recycling electronic items; some programs are open to all Erie County residents, but some are only open to residents of a specific municipality. Most programs will require a fee for service.

Free electronics recycling

• Best Buy still accepts some small electronic items, though all Pennsylvania Best Buy stores no longer accept computer monitors and televisions. For specific details, check out the Best Buy Electronics and Appliances Recycling page or call Best Buy at 814-860-8487. Some items are accepted for free; others may require the purchase of a new item or a small fee.
• Goodwill has partnered with Dell to provide free drop-off recycling of any brand of used computer equipment, in any condition. Drop-offs are accepted at Goodwill’s locations in Summit Towne Center, on West 26th Street, or on Nagle Road.
• Staples will accept some electronic items, specifically those connected with computers. These items will be accepted for free, limited to seven items per person. For information, see the Staples Recycling page or call Staples at 814-868-4901. Staples does not accept televisions.
• Penelec, through the Energy Efficiency Rebate program, will take working refrigerators and freezers when you purchase a new one. For more information, see the Appliance Turn-In Program.

Other electronics recycling programs

• Lincoln Recycling, 1602 Selinger Avenue, accepts some electronics, including computer monitors and televisions. Fees apply. Call 814-838-7628 for more details.
• ProWaste, 813 East 18th Street, accepts televisions and computers. Fees apply. Call 814-455-5119 for more details.

Municipal electronics recycling

• Residents who have curbside recycling through Waste Management in Fairview Township, Girard Borough, Girard Township, Harborcreek Township and Platea Borough have access to a curbside collection program for electronics and household hazardous waste called At Your Door. Those who use the Pay-As-You-Throw program through Waste Management for trash may be eligible in certain municipalities. Please contact your township or borough recycling coordinator to verify your eligibility or call the At Your Door program at 800-449-7587 to schedule a pick-up.
• The Borough of North East collects electronic materials the same day normal recycling is collected. Separate your acceptable electronics recycling materials from your normal recycling and place them in two separate piles. The same truck will collect both your normal recycling and your electronics recycling.

Please contact your municipality to learn more about electronics collection events in your area.