Free Recycle Drop-Off at our Shop!

Please read for what can be recycled & how to do it right (so we can keep this wonderful resource free : )

This is provided courtesy of Gretna Sanitation and the Hillside Fund.

 

The Big 3 Rules

Empty it. No food/liquid inside your recyclables.

Keep it loose. No bags. Bagged recycling often can’t be sorted.

When in doubt, leave it out. Or check the Omaha Recycling Guide.

Located at the Gretna Sanitation Shop

21736 Williams Cir, Gretna, NE

Open 24/7 with video surveillance.

 

Cardboard & Paper Recycling

✅ Accepted Here

  • Flattened cardboard boxes, including pizza boxes

  • Paperboard (cereal, pasta, snack boxes)

  • Office paper & mail

  • Newspapers & magazines

  • Non-wax paper packaging

❌ Not Accepted Here

  • Plastic bags or wrap

  • Waxed or coated cardboard

  • Drink cartons

  • Metal, glass, or plastic containers

⚠ Prep Instructions

  • Flatten all boxes

  • Keep materials clean and dry

  • Place items in loose — no bags

👉 Common Mistakes

Unfolded boxes: Be sure to fold down your cardboard to leave room for the next person.

Plastic Containers, Cans, Hefty Renew Bag Recycling

✅ Accepted Here

  • Aluminum cans

  • Steel/tin cans

  • Plastic bottles & jugs (#1, #2, #5)

  • Plastic tubs & containers

  • Hefty Renew bags with soft plastics

❌ Not Accepted Here

  • Plastic bags or film (except in Hefty Renew)

  • Styrofoam (except in Hefty Renew)

  • Glass

  • Cardboard or paper

  • Compostable packaging

⚠ Prep Instructions

  • Empty & quick-rinse

  • Leave labels on

  • Place items loose — no bagged recyclables

👉 Common Mistakes

Putting styrofoam and plastics in here outside of a Hefty Renew bag. If you want to recycle this material, it must be in a Hefty Renewbag or placed in your landfill container at home. Learn more about Hefty Renew.

Glass

✅ Accepted Here

  • Glass bottles (all colors)

  • Glass jars (food & beverage)

  • Caps and lids OK

  • Labels OK

❌ Not Accepted Here

  • Drinking glasses

  • Ceramics, dishes, crystal

  • Window or mirror glass

  • Light bulbs

  • Lab glass, Pyrex, bakeware

⚠ Prep Instructions

  • Empty contents

  • Leave caps & labels on

  • Place items loose — no bags

👉 Common Mistakes

Kitchen glassware and ceramics look recyclable but melt at different temperatures and ruin glass loads.

Compostables

✅ Accepted Here

  • All food scraps (meat, dairy, bone, produce, bread)

  • Coffee grounds & filters

  • Napkins & paper towels (uncoated)

  • BPI-certified compostable serviceware

  • Compostable liners (certified only)

❌ Not Accepted Here

  • Plastic, metal, or glass

  • “Compostable-looking” plastics without certification

  • Stickers & produce labels

  • Wax paper & receipts

  • Packaging with plastic lining

⚠ Prep Instructions

  • Remove packaging

  • Only use certified compostable products

  • Empty directly — no plastic bags

👉 Common Mistakes

“Biodegradable” ≠ compostable. If it’s not certified, keep it out.

>>>BATTERIES<<<

Located on East side of building (to the right as you drive in)

Loose Small Batteries

✅ Accepted Here

  • Lithium & Lithium-Ion

  • Coin Cell Batteries

❌ Not Accepted Here

  • Damaged or defective batteries

  • Casing that’s corroded, punctured or swollen

  • Devices leaking liquid or with visible chemical residue

⚠ Prep Instructions

  • Seal in zip loc bag

👉 Common Mistakes

  • Attempting to remove casing


Removable Batteries & Devices with Built-In Batteries

✅ Accepted Here

  • Batteries that can be removed from devices

    >> e.g. drills, cameras

  • Devices containing non-removable lithium batteries

    >> e.g. airpods, electric razors & toothbrushes

❌ Not Accepted Here

  • Damaged or defective batteries

  • Casing that’s corroded, punctured or swollen

  • Devices leaking liquid or with visible chemical residue

⚠ Prep Instructions

  • Tape over port

👉 Common Mistakes

  • Attempting to remove casing

 

Vapes / E-Cigarettes & Nicotine Products

✅ Accepted Here

  • Disposable Vape

  • Pod-Style Decies (Juul, Vuse, Alto, etc.)

  • Tanks only - NO GLASS

❌ Not Accepted Here

  • No THC products allowed

⚠ Prep Instructions

  • Remove glass - display screens okay

👉 Common Mistakes

  • Attempting to remove casing

♻️🌱💚 Fun Facts ♻️🌱💚

  • Gretna Sanitation cleans & reuses all bins that are structurally functional.

  • We use Simple Green for cleaning - non•toxic, biodegradable & a concentrate to reduce plastic.

  • When a bin is beyond repair, we remove bars & recycle both the metal & plastic.

  • Our trucks run on CNG - a cleaner running fuel. This produces up to 95% fewer emissions than diesel & offers 20-30% lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Questions?