TAKE5 Recycling Program
What is TAKE5 Program?
Take5 was developed by the City of Fort Lauderdale to improve the recycling collection program by eliminating contamination and increasing the quality of collected materials. This helps to keep the costs to our City as low as possible. Global and local contamination is a major issue of concern and now it is our time to do our part in Fort Lauderdale by recycling only the 5 acceptable items.
Items You Can Recycle
Paper
- Newspaper
- Envelopes
- Junk mail
- Phone books
- Brochures
- Magazines
- Ream wrappers
Cardboard
- File folders
- Poster board
- Frozen food boxes
- Cardboard boxes
- Milk cartons
Plastic
- Milk jugs
- Water/Soda containers
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Detergent
Metal
Glass
- Beverage containers
- Glass food jars
What is Contamination?
Contamination occurs when garbage and non-recyclable materials are placed in recycling carts with good recycling materials.
What Can't Be Recycled?
- Appliances
- Batteries
- Bubble Wrap
- Christmas Lights
- Coat Hangers
- Diapers
- Electrical Cords
- Food Waste
- Food Wrap
- Garden Hoses
- Plastic Bags
- Polystyrene
- Rubber Balls
- Sports Equipment
- Stuffed Animals
- Syringes/Razor Blades
- Tires
- Wood/Yard Waste
FAQs
Are you collecting personal information?
No personal information will be gathered or removed from the carts. Employees and volunteers are trained to only check the blue recycling carts for contamination. Materials will not be removed.
How can I help with the TAKE 5 program?
More information about how to get involved can be found on our Green Your Routine page.
What time will the inspections take place?
Cart inspections will begin at 7:00 am and are targeted for completion by 10:00 am.
Who will be conducting the cart inspections?
Blue recycling cart inspections will be completed by City employees and Green Your Routine Volunteers. Both will be uniformed in yellow high visibility, reflective vests.
Can I get my recycle cart back after it has been removed?
You will be eligible to apply for a recycle cart after 90 days. You will be required to complete the TAKE5 anti-contamination course and sign the TAKE5 pledge. The contents of the recycle cart will be monitored with future inspections to ensure only the acceptable items are placed in the cart.
How will I know when the audit will take place?
Signage will be placed in the target area whenever possible prior to the scheduled audit.
What information are you gathering during tagging process?
We are collecting information that identifies the common contaminants to better inform future educational campaigns.
How will the TAKE5 program work?
For 3 consecutive weeks, City of Fort Lauderdale employees and Green Your Routine volunteers will be checking the contents of blue recycling carts placed curbside in specific neighborhoods on their scheduled recycling day. Recycling carts that do not have any contamination will be given a "Good Job" tag.
Recycling carts containing garbage and non-recyclable materials will be tagged to identify the non-recyclable materials and will not be serviced. The non-recyclable materials must be removed from the cart in order to be serviced on the next scheduled recycling day. Carts found to have contamination after 3 inspections may be subject to immediate removal.
Should I bag my recyclables?
Do not bag your recyclables. Keep them loose, clean and dry. Plastic bags can jam and damage processing equipment creating significant delays. Plastic bags are not recyclable in the current residential program but can be taken back to many retailers.
What are the acceptable items that should be placed in the blue recycling cart?
- Paper
- Metal Cans
- Cardboard
- Plastic Bottles and Containers
- Glass Containers
What is a cart tag?
Cart tags are used to provide neighbors real-time feedback of the audit findings. "Great Job" tags are left on the recycle cart when no contaminates are found. "Oops" tags will be left on recycle carts that contain contamination. The cart tag will identify the specific contaminants that will need to be removed in order to have the cart serviced on the next scheduled recycling day.
What is contamination?
Contamination occurs when garbage and non-recyclable materials are placed in recycling carts with good recycling materials.
Some of the common contaminants are plastic bags, food, household garbage, appliances, hoses, ropes, textiles, chains, tanks, wood, yard waste, tools, plastic furniture, shredded paper and Styrofoam food containers.