Trash or Recycle? A Verde Valley Guide to What Goes Where

First, identify your collection company or drop-off program

A recycling symbol or resin number does not guarantee that an item is accepted locally. The processor must have a market and equipment for that material. That is why the same container may be accepted by one Verde Valley program and rejected by another.

Be careful with older municipal listings. WM purchased Patriot Disposal effective June 15, 2024, but some official town pages still mention Patriot as a separate provider. Camp Verde’s general living guide also assigns Taylor Waste’s 928-649-2662 phone number to WM, while the Town’s newer trash and recycling page lists WM at 1-877-762-9708. Use the most specific current service page or the provider’s own site instead of assuming every municipal directory has been updated.

Recycling in Camp Verde

Camp Verde does not operate municipal curbside trash or recycling collection. Residents choose a private provider and must follow that provider’s rules. The Town’s current trash and recycling page lists WM and Taylor Waste for trash service and Sedona Recycles as a recycling option. The Camp Verde Transfer Station is a separate Yavapai County facility for self-hauled material.

Recycling in Cottonwood

Taylor Waste and WM advertise residential trash and recycling service in Cottonwood. Identify which company supplies the cart before using this guide. The Cottonwood Transfer Station is operated by WM, but a transfer station is not a substitute for checking curbside recycling rules.

Recycling in Sedona

Taylor Waste and WM provide curbside service, while Sedona Recycles operates three free public drop-off sites. Those are different programs. In particular, Sedona Recycles stopped accepting number 5 plastics in June 2026, while Taylor Waste’s published curbside list still says plastics numbered 1 through 7.

Recycling in Clarkdale

Clarkdale requires residential trash service and collects trash on Tuesday. The Town describes recycling as a public drop-off at Main Street and Bonnaha Avenue rather than a residential curbside cart. Its page names broad categories only, so residents should call 928-639-2450 before taking an uncertain plastic.

Recycling in Jerome

Jerome provides municipal trash collection and public recycling bins. Paper, plastic, aluminum and tin, and glass go to the bins at Main Street and Jerome Avenue. Cardboard goes to the 300 Level parking lot on Perkinsville Road. The Town does not publish plastic resin numbers or preparation details.

Recycling in Cornville, Rimrock, Lake Montezuma, Village of Oak Creek and Verde Village

These unincorporated communities do not have town-run curbside collection. Service availability can vary by address. Taylor Waste publishes routes for several of these communities, but residents should confirm the provider serving the property before relying on a materials list.

What each local recycling program publishes

Taylor Waste blue-lid curbside recycling

Taylor Waste publishes a simple, broad accepted-materials list for its 95-gallon blue-lid cart. No sorting is required, and recycling is collected twice a month on published route schedules.

Taylor Waste lists these materials as accepted:

• Newspaper, magazines and junk mail
• Aluminum, tin and metal cans
• All paper and cardboard
• Plastics numbered 1 through 7
• Glass

Important limitation: Taylor’s page includes route information effective in 2025, but it does not display a separate update date for the materials list. It also says Taylor may later designate no glass. The page does not publish a detailed rejection list or preparation rules for doubtful items such as plastic bags, clamshells, lids, shredded paper or food-contaminated packaging. Call Taylor Waste at 928-649-2662 to confirm plastics numbered 3 through 7, glass and anything not clearly named.

Source: Taylor Waste recycling program and route schedule.

Sedona Recycles public drop-off bins

Sedona Recycles is a nonprofit drop-off program, not a curbside hauler. Its rules should not be copied automatically to a Taylor or WM cart.

The current published list accepts:

• Number 1 and number 2 plastic bottles and jugs, emptied, with lids removed
• Aluminum beverage cans and steel or tin food cans
• Flattened cardboard without plastic wrap or foam
• Food boxes, newspaper, magazines, catalogs, office paper, mail and envelopes
• Shredded paper only when bagged, preferably in a stapled brown paper bag
• Green, clear and brown glass bottles
• Clean aluminum foil
• Empty tin paint cans after the paint is dry

It does not accept:

• Plastic bags, clamshells or plastic egg cartons
• Plastics numbered 3 through 7, including number 5 tubs
• Hot beverage cups, foam containers, straws or single-use cutlery
• Milk, plant-milk, broth or other aseptic cartons
• Blue glass, mirrors, window glass, plate glass or glass bakeware
• Batteries, electronics, light bulbs, paint, motor oil or household chemicals

One published conflict is worth knowing: the detailed accepted-materials page lists some number 1 plastic jars, but Sedona Recycles’ 2026 update says the only accepted plastics are number 1 and number 2 bottles and jugs. Use the narrower bottles-and-jugs rule or call 928-204-1185 before taking a plastic jar.

Sources: Sedona Recycles accepted materials, frequently asked questions, and 2026 program update.

WM curbside recycling

WM’s national guide includes cardboard and paperboard, food and beverage cans, paper, plastic bottles, cups and containers, and glass bottles and containers. It excludes food and liquids, clothing, furniture, carpet, green waste, batteries, hazardous waste, foam, loose plastic bags, plastic film and bagged recyclables.

However, WM states on the same guide that accepted items vary by location and residents must check the local program. WM’s Verde Valley location pages advertise recycling service but do not publish a location-specific accepted-materials list that we could verify. Treat the national poster as background, not proof that a particular item belongs in your local cart. Check your account instructions or contact WM before relying on it.

Sources: WM Recycling 101 and the WM national recycling poster.

Clarkdale and Jerome public drop-off bins

Both towns publish material categories, but neither page gives the detailed resin numbers, shapes or preparation rules needed to judge every item.

• Clarkdale: cardboard, plastic and paper at Main Street and Bonnaha Avenue; aluminum cans in the Lions Club receptacle. Call 928-639-2450 for plastic details.
• Jerome: paper, plastic, aluminum and tin, and glass at Main Street and Jerome Avenue; cardboard at the 300 Level parking lot on Perkinsville Road. Call 928-634-7943 for item-specific questions.

Trash or recycle? Common Verde Valley items compared

These answers report only what each program publishes. If a local source is not specific enough to support a yes or no, the item is marked for confirmation.

• Cardboard: Taylor Waste and Sedona Recycles accept it. Sedona Recycles requires it flattened with plastic wrap and foam removed. WM’s national guide accepts it, but local customers should confirm.
• Newspaper, magazines and office paper: Taylor Waste and Sedona Recycles accept them. WM’s national guide accepts paper, but local customers should confirm.
• Aluminum, tin and steel cans: Taylor Waste and Sedona Recycles accept them. WM’s national guide accepts food and beverage cans, but local customers should confirm.
• Number 1 and 2 plastic bottles and jugs: Taylor Waste accepts them. Sedona Recycles accepts empty bottles and jugs with lids removed. WM customers should confirm local rules.
• Plastics numbered 3 through 7: Taylor Waste’s published list says yes. Sedona Recycles says no. WM customers should confirm.
• Glass bottles and jars: Taylor Waste’s published list says yes. Sedona Recycles accepts green, clear and brown bottles, but not blue glass. WM customers should confirm local rules.
• Plastic bags and film: Keep them out of curbside recycling unless the local provider explicitly says otherwise. Sedona Recycles does not accept them. WM’s national guidance also says no.
• Lids and caps: Sedona Recycles says no. Taylor Waste and WM customers should confirm.
• Clamshells and takeout containers: Sedona Recycles says no. Taylor Waste and WM customers should confirm the exact container.
• Shredded paper: Sedona Recycles accepts it bagged and prefers a stapled brown paper bag. Taylor Waste and WM customers should confirm.
• Clean aluminum foil: Sedona Recycles accepts it. Taylor Waste and WM customers should confirm.
• Batteries and electronics: Do not put them in curbside recycling. Sedona Recycles does not accept them.

Five rules that prevent the most recycling mistakes

1. Follow the destination, not the symbol. A number inside the recycling triangle identifies plastic resin. It does not promise local acceptance.
2. Keep recyclables empty and dry. Food and liquid can contaminate paper and cardboard and may cause otherwise recyclable material to be rejected.
3. Do not bag curbside recyclables. WM and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tell residents to place recyclables loose in the cart. Sedona Recycles makes one explicit exception for shredded paper.
4. Keep plastic bags and film out of household recycling bins. The EPA says these materials require separate retail or drop-off collection where available.
5. Never put lithium-ion batteries in either household cart. The EPA warns that batteries and battery-powered devices can start fires during collection and processing. Use a battery or household hazardous waste collection point.

National safety sources: EPA guidance for common recyclables and EPA lithium-ion battery guidance.

Local recycling and disposal locations

Sedona Recycles

All three drop-off sites are listed as open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Shelby Drive lobby is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Sedona Posse Grounds, 525 Posse Ground Road, Sedona
• Uptown Public Parking Lot, 260 Schnebly Road, Sedona
• Shelby Drive Facility, 2280 Shelby Drive, Sedona

Verify locations and hours: Sedona Recycles drop-off locations, 928-204-1185.

Clarkdale recycling drop-off

Corner of Main Street and Bonnaha Avenue near Clarkdale-Jerome School. The Town lists cardboard, plastic and paper, plus a separate Lions Club receptacle for aluminum cans. Call 928-639-2450 for details.

Jerome recycling bins

Paper, plastic, aluminum and tin, and glass bins are across from the Spirit Room at Main Street and Jerome Avenue. Cardboard bins are at the 300 Level parking lot on Perkinsville Road. Call 928-634-7943 for details.

Cottonwood Transfer Station

1500 W. Mingus Avenue, Cottonwood. The City lists hours as Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday. Call the on-site number, 928-531-0255, before hauling a special item. See the official Cottonwood Transfer Station page.

Camp Verde Transfer Station

2600 E. Highway 260, Camp Verde. Yavapai County lists normal hours as Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 928-713-8910 to confirm acceptance and fees before loading. See the Yavapai County Solid Waste Division.

Some items belong in neither household bin

A recycling rejection does not automatically make an item safe for the trash. Batteries, electronics, liquid paint, motor oil, household chemicals, propane tanks, medical sharps and some appliances need a separate collection program or special handling.

• Household batteries: Clarkdale Public Works accepts several dry-cell battery types. Sedona Recycles directs residents to separate retailer collection. Confirm before traveling.
• Electronics: Sedona Recycles stopped accepting electronics in 2022 and directs residents to retailer programs or eligible City of Sedona collection events.
• Paint, motor oil and chemicals: Do not put liquids in recycling. Use an eligible household hazardous waste program or a verified retailer take-back option.
• Furniture, mattresses and appliances: Use a transfer station, a collection program that explicitly accepts the item, or a professional removal service.

For additional local facility research, use Bella’s directory of Verde Valley recycling facilities. Call the destination before loading because hours, fees and accepted materials change.

If an item is too large or heavy to move safely, Bella Junk Removal offers appliance removal and full-service junk removal throughout the Verde Valley. We do not haul hazardous chemicals, medical waste or asbestos. Call or text 928-395-6441 or request an estimate.

Download the printable Verde Valley trash and recycling guide

The printable guide separates Taylor Waste curbside rules from Sedona Recycles drop-off rules and includes the phone numbers needed for WM, Clarkdale and Jerome. It is designed for a refrigerator, utility room or office notice board.

• Download the Verde Valley Trash vs. Recycling Quick Guide PDF
• Download the Verde Valley Trash vs. Recycling Quick Guide PDF – Black and White Version

Frequently asked questions

Can glass go in a Verde Valley recycling cart?

It depends on the program. Taylor Waste’s published blue-lid-cart list includes glass. WM’s national guide includes glass but says local rules may differ, so WM customers should verify their address. Sedona Recycles accepts green, clear and brown glass bottles at its drop-off bins, but rejects blue glass, mirrors, windows, plate glass and bakeware.

Are plastics numbered 3 through 7 recyclable here?

Taylor Waste’s published list says plastics 1 through 7 are accepted in its blue-lid cart. Sedona Recycles does not accept plastics 3 through 7. WM customers and users of town drop-off bins should confirm the exact item because the available local sources do not publish enough detail.

Can I recycle yogurt tubs in Sedona?

Not at Sedona Recycles. The nonprofit stopped accepting number 5 polypropylene in June 2026, including yogurt, hummus, cottage cheese and cream cheese tubs. A Taylor Waste customer should follow Taylor’s rules rather than the Sedona Recycles drop-off list.

Should I remove lids before recycling?

Sedona Recycles requires lids to be removed and discarded. Taylor Waste’s public page does not state a lid rule, and WM says local instructions control. If your program does not publish an answer, ask before assuming.

Can plastic bags go in curbside recycling?

No. The EPA says plastic bags, wraps and film should not go in a household recycling bin. Participating grocery and retail stores may collect eligible film separately. Confirm the store’s current program before making a trip.

Does Camp Verde provide municipal trash pickup?

No. The Town of Camp Verde states that it does not provide trash or recycling collection. Residents arrange service with a private provider.

Where can I take a mattress or old appliance?

These items do not belong in a recycling cart. Call the Camp Verde or Cottonwood transfer station to confirm acceptance and fees, use a retailer haul-away program when replacing an appliance, or arrange professional removal. Refrigerators and freezers require proper handling because they contain refrigerant.

Primary sources and verification notes

• Taylor Waste recycling program. Current page includes routes effective after April 1, 2025; no separate page-update date is displayed.
• Sedona Recycles accepted materials, FAQ, news and drop-off locations. Pages accessed September 16, 2026.
• WM Recycling 101. WM expressly says recyclable items vary by location.
• Town of Camp Verde trash and recycling services.
• Town of Clarkdale sanitation.
• Town of Jerome water, sewer, trash and recycling.
• City of Cottonwood Transfer Station.
• Yavapai County Solid Waste Division.
• U.S. EPA common recyclables guidance and lithium-ion battery guidance.

Last verified September 16, 2026. If a local program has changed, contact Bella Junk Removal at 928-395-6441 so this guide can be corrected.