Aluminum Foil & Trays
Empty. Dry.
No food left behind.
Clean aluminum foil and trays are accepted at RecycleOn Centers. Wipe off the residue, ball up the foil and bring it in.
Rule of Thumb
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All aluminum No paper or plastic layers attached
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No food, grease or oil Wipes clean without residue
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Foil balled up Loose foil is easier to lose track of
Bring it in
Keep it out
Sorting, at a Glance
What Goes In, What Stays Out
Pure aluminum recycles beautifully. The trouble starts when it’s layered with other materials or coated in food.
Yes – bring these in
- Aluminum foil (clean, balled up)
- Aluminum foil trays
- Disposable aluminum baking pans
- Aluminum roasting pans
- Aluminum takeout trays (no residue)
- Pie tins and pressed aluminum containers
No – keep these out
- Foil with food, grease or oil that won't wipe clean
- Metal cans
- Foil-lined packaging (paper, coffee bags, pouches)
- Chip bags, snack and candy wrappers
- Pet food bags
- Frozen food packaging with foil layers
- Aluminum fused to plastic or paper
- Anything magnetic
Frequently Asked Questions
More detail on why these rules exist, what happens to your recycling and how the law defines accepted materials.
Why can't foil and trays go in my curbside cart?
Aluminum foil and trays don’t go in home recycling bins because they’re lightweight and hard for machines and magnets to sort from other materials. But when collected separately at RecycleOn Centers, they can be recycled properly.
How clean is clean enough?
Remove all food residue before recycling.
What about foil-lined coffee bags?
Foil-lined coffee bags are not accepted. They are made of multiple materials that are extremely difficult to recycle.
Are aluminum cans accepted here too?
No, aluminum cans are accepted in curbside recycling or at BottleDrop locations.
What happens after I drop it off?
After collection, the foil is sent to an aluminum smelter, where it is melted down and turned into new aluminum products.
What does the law say?
Looking to learn more about exactly what is recyclable? Below is how the law defines these materials.
Items that meet the following guidelines are accepted at RecycleOn Centers. “Aluminum foil and products made of pressed aluminum foil.”