Recycling Office Hours

Got a question about recycling?

Step into CVWMA’s Recycling Office Hours!

Recycling Coordinator Olivia Beidler answers your questions live on this monthly Zoom chat.

When: First Wednesday of Every Month, Noon-1 p.m.

Where: Zoom

How to join:

Add Office Hours to your calendar.

Selected Questions from Previous Office Hours

August 6, 2025 

Q: Is latex paint accepted for recycling?  

A:  Generally, no, but it depends on what locality you reside in. Check out our Recycling Wizard page (cvwma.com/recycling-wizard) for more information about latex paint recycling. You can also air dry the paint or use cat litter to dry the paint and dispose of it in your trash.

Q: Can I recycle alkaline batteries?  

A: No, alkaline batteries are not accepted through our recycling program. You can use companies such as Call2Recycle to recycle alkaline and other batteries. You can also safely dispose of alkaline batteries in your trash.

Q: Can I recycle mail? What about the plastic windows on mailing envelopes and pasta boxes? What if there is tape on my cardboard boxes? What about plastic or bubble-wrapped paper mailers?  

A: Yes, you can recycle mail! Plastic windows on envelopes and pasta boxes are fine to stay on, as they will be removed during the filtering process. Small amounts of tape on cardboard boxes are also permissible. We do not accept plastic mailers or bubble-wrap lined paper mailers. You can bring plastic mailers to your local grocery store to be recycled with plastic grocery bags, but please remove paper labels/stickers.

Q: Will hard drives be wiped during E-Cycling events? 

A: Yes, hard drives are wiped during E-Cycling events hosted by CVWMA or one of your jurisdictions. We use Securis for electronics recycling, and they wipe hard drives at their facility after collection.

Q: Can I mix cardboard with my other recycling at the Chesterfield Rockwood Park Recycling location? 

A: The recycling containers have instructions on what is accepted at that location.

Q: Does our Material Recovery Facility use cameras to sort recycled materials?  

A: At this time, our MRF located in Chester, VA does not use cameras to sort recycled materials.

Q: What do I do with large cardboard boxes that do not fit in my curbside bin? 

A: One option would be to bring larger boxes to one of the drop-off recycling sites (cwwma.com/dropoff). Another option would be to break down the boxes into multiple components that could all fit within your curbside bin. Just make sure to flatten your cardboard boxes!

Q: Where is the convenience center located in Colonial Heights? 

A: The Colonial Heights Recycling Center is located at 2701 Conduit Road, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. You can explore our other drop-off recycling locations at cvwma.com/locations.

Q: Should we place caps back on our plastic tubs and jugs to be recycled? 

A: Yes! You can place caps back on your plastic tubs and jugs to be recycled together (just make sure you clean the containers before recycling them). New technology has allowed us to accept plastic caps to be recycled with their containers! Please do not recycle loose plastic caps or caps on glass jars.

Q: Does CVWMA offer educational programs aimed at connecting the youth to recycling resources? 

A: Yes! CVMWA offers various educational programming activities for community members of every age. You can request a program at cvwma.com/education-and-outreach.

Q: Can I attend a paper shredding event in a different locality?  

A: It depends on the event. Certain events are open only to residents of that jurisdiction and may require proof of residence. Check out our events page (cvmwa.com/events) for more information about specific events.

Q: What types of metal are accepted in the CVWMA recycling program? 

A: CVWMA accepts aluminum and steel cans in our curbside and drop-off recycling programs. Please make sure to rinse items before recycling them.

Q: Can I recycle shredded paper? 

A: Shredded paper is not accepted in the CVWMA curbside or drop-off recycling programs. A good rule of thumb is to only recycle acceptable materials that are larger than the size of a credit card.

Q: What is the most valued recyclable material? 

A: One of the more valuable recyclable materials in our program is metal (aluminum and steel cans). These items are fairly straightforward to recycle and can be turned into new cans in as little as 60 days!