The poster above shows the mixed recyclables collected curbside through a subscription service with Bainbridge Disposal or at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station. At the transfer station, garbage or recycling is $14 the first can and $8 for each additional can (2024 rates).

Make sure containers are RINSED and EMPTY; paper should be dry.
Recycle loose, NEVER in a plastic bag. Plastic bags are pulled off the conveyor belt unopened at the sorting facility and thrown in the trash along with the recyclables inside.

To learn where our recyclables are sold after they are trucked to the “murf” (MRF=materials recovery facility) in Tacoma, go to Kitsap Solid Waste’s page and scroll down to “Where do Kitsap’s recyclables go?”

Here are details to the above poster:

Aluminum

  • cans – Do not crush. If a can is entirely flat, it may end up in paper bales at the sorting facility and then be thrown away at the paper mill. Put entirely flat aluminum cans in the scrap metal collection bin at the Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center

NO aluminum foil or food trays – If clean, these can go in the scrap metal collection bin at the Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center, or they may be put in the scrap metal dumpster at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station (for perhaps a small fee).

Glass

  • bottles & jars (no lids*)

* Metal lids can go in the scrap metal collection bin at the BI Senior/Community Center.

NO drinking glasses
NO window panes

Metal

  • food cans

NO scrap metal. Scrap metal can go in the scrap metal collection bin at the BI Senior/Community Center or in the scrap metal dumpster at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station (for perhaps a small fee).

Paper

  • junk mail
  • magazines and catalogues
  • newspaper
  • copy paper
  • construction paper
  • wrapping paper (not embossed, metallic foil or glittery)
  • paper boxes (no liners, PLEASE flatten)
  • paper bags
  • phone books

NO milk or juice cartons or Tetrapaks
NO frozen food boxes
NO paper cups, plates or bowls (put in trash)
NO non-tearable paper (put in trash)
NO stickers or sticker backing (put in trash)
NO shredded paper (put in compost if free of plastic)
NO greasy pizza boxes (put in compost)
NO tissue paper (put in compost)
NO tissues, paper towels or paper napkins (put in compost)

Plastics

  • bottles & jugs & jars (put caps in trash or give to friend with a Ridwell account)
  • dairy tubs (no lids)
Recycling Poster

Click the button above for the Bainbridge Disposal/Kitsap County poster of what is accepted in curbside recycling and in the mixed recycling container (although there is a separate container for cardboard) at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station.

Watch this 10-minute video made by the Association of Mission-Based (nonprofit) Recyclers that will open your eyes as to why our recycling is so contaminated.

Last updated 2/10/2025