Little Rock, AR Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Contamination fee
- $50 per violation
- Extra recycling container
- $3.11/month, 3-month minimum
- Accepted materials
- glass, metal, paper, cardboard, plastic bottles
- Prohibited in bin
- yard waste, bulk items, household garbage
- Service forfeiture
- minimum 1 year after contamination
Summary
Little Rock's curbside recycling program accepts glass, metal, paper, and plastic bottles in city-issued containers, but yard waste, bulk items, and household garbage are barred from the bin and trigger a contamination fee.
Recyclables means items included in the city's approved recycling program that includes, but is not limited to, newsprint and accompanying inserts; brown, clear, and green glass containers; aluminum cans, clean aluminum foil, and clean aluminum food trays; steel cans; plastic bottles and jugs; all cardboard; magazines; office paper; residential mixed paper (office paper, junk mail, catalogs, and paper board such as cereal/food boxes); and other local recyclable processor agreed upon materials.
Recycling means the process by which recovered materials are collected, separated, processed, and reused as materials for the manufacturing of new consumer products.
Recycling collection means a receptacle, including, but not limited to, a container or dumpster, designed for the purpose of collecting recyclable materials, with sufficient capacity to provide collection without overflowing or spilling.
Service provider means the person, corporation, partnership, or entity awarded the contract by the multifamily housing community's authorized management agent which provides cart or dumpster services and/or recyclable materials collection, hauling and delivery.
(Ord. No. 20,854, § 2, 3-4-14)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
The city's recycling program (Sec. 28-57) accepts newsprint, glass containers, aluminum cans and foil, steel cans, plastic bottles and jugs, cardboard, magazines, and mixed office paper. Recyclables must go only in city-provided recycling containers and be prepared per the instructions printed on the container (Sec. 28-18). Yard waste, bulk waste, medical waste, household waste, and garbage can never be placed in a recycling container (Sec. 28-16(k)). Contaminating a recycling container with prohibited materials triggers a fifty-dollar fee, and the city can revoke curbside recycling service for at least a year until the fee is paid (Sec. 28-28(d)).
Violations & Fines
Placing yard waste, trash, or other non-recyclables in a recycling container costs $50 in contamination fees; repeat contamination forfeits curbside recycling service for at least one year until the fee is paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I put in my Little Rock recycling container?
What happens if I contaminate my recycling bin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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