It is easy to confuse changing waste regulations — what can be recycled and what cannot. Allied Waste, which serves Mercer Island, divides the following products into two categories.

RECYCLE:

Must be empty, clean and unbagged:

Cartons

Glass ­— bottles, jars; no lids

Metals — aluminum cans, tin cans; no labels

Paper — including catalogs, flattened cardboard, magazines, newspaper, telephone books, paper boxes (no liners), paper bags, file folders

Plastics — bottles, jugs, bags (bagged), pill bottles; no lids

Round dairy tubs

GARBAGE:

Aerosol cans

Animal waste, pet litter

Ashes (bagged)

Carbon paper, waxed products

CDs

Ceramics, dishes

Detergent boxes

Diapers (bagged)

Greasy car parts

Lids, bottle caps

Medical needles, sharps

Mirrors, window glass

Motor oil containers, empty

Paper towels, plates, napkins

Plastics/aluminum contaminated with food

Plastic/waxed cardboard

Plastic cups, plates, utensils

Styrofoam block, containers, packaging bubbles

Aluminum foil

Tissues, toilet paper

Toxic containers, empty/no residue

Factoria Transfer station

13800 S.E. 32nd St., Bellevue

Hours: Mon-Fri: 6:15 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.; Sat-Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Household Hazardous Waste: Tues – Sun: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information: Allied Waste, www.rabanco.com/collection/mercer_island