Hometown Electronics

02/02/2026

Solving the Pizza Box Recycling Mystery

As we prepare for Superbowl Sunday, the most popular item on the menu is sure to be pizza. More than 12 million pizzas are sold on game day alone—and across the U.S., an estimated 3 billion pizza boxes are discarded each year!

For years, grease was thought to make pizza boxes unrecyclable. However, a scientific study by WestRock—a major cardboard recycler and processor of Monroe County’s recyclables—found that the average amount of grease in a pizza box does not affect the quality of the recycled product.

So what does this mean for us? Good news: pizza boxes can be recycled—even greasy ones! Just be sure they’re empty. Before recycling, remove leftover crusts, chicken wing bones, and any wax paper liners.

Now that’s a recycling win—no matter who takes home the trophy!

Updated Recycling Resources

In late 2025, Monroe County was excited to announce the addition of paper and plastic to-go cups to the curbside recycling program. Now accepted countywide —no matter which collection company serves your home—helping grow recycling one cup at a time.

To help residents recycle right, updated recycling information cards are available at Town and Village offices, local libraries, or can be requested by mail through our website.

Our website serves as a one-stop resource hub for recycling tools, guidelines, and local resources—everything you need to recycle smarter. We’re always working to make these materials more accessible, and we’ve recently refreshed the site to make it even more user-friendly and easier to navigate.
How do I recycle...?

When you've got recycling questions, we have answers! Some of our most popular resources are highlighted below.

Website Search Tool

Simply click the “How Do I Recycle…” search tool and type in the item you have questions about.
Instructions—including whether the item belongs in curbside recycling, the ecopark, or the trash—are provided for more than 300 items.
When available, links to convenient and alternative drop-off locations will automatically appear.

Ask Alexa

If you have an Alexa smart speaker or device, just say "Open the Monroe County Recycling Skill."
The skill is available in eight languages, making recycling information more accessible to a diverse audience.
The smart speaker application also provides an easy-to-use option for residents who are visually impaired.
The free Alexa app can be downloaded on a smartphone, allowing Monroe County’s Recycling Skill to be accessed right from your phone!

12/28/2025

Holiday Recycling
This time of year, it can be challenging to know how to properly manage all the different materials that come into our homes. When in doubt, keep it out—or better yet, check our recycling guidelines. Recycling right helps protect workers, equipment, and the environment.

Only clean and empty items should be placed in recycling, as food and liquids can contaminate valuable materials. Tanglers—such as string lights, cords, ribbons, and tinsel—can wrap around sorting equipment at the recycling center, causing costly shutdowns, so please keep these items out of your recycling bin. Below is a simple guide to help make recycling right this holiday season easier.

Mixed Recycling
• Plain wrapping paper, boxes, and cards (no foil, glitter, or metallic)
• Cardboard boxes (empty and break down)
• Packing paper (cut into 12 inch sections)
• Paper shopping and gift bags (cut handles first, no foil, glitter, or metallic)
• Make sure all recyclables are empty, clean, and loose in cart (not bagged)
Drop off programs or ecopark
• String lights (also accepted at electronics recyclers and various community collection points)
• Block white packing foam (no tape or stickers)
• Cooking oil
• Christmas trees (real or artificial)
• Plastic wrap, mailers, air pillows, and bubble wrap
• Electronics
• Rechargeable batteries
Reuse
• Foil, glitter, and metallic boxes and bags
• Ribbons and bows
• Decorations
• Food (freeze or turn leftovers into new meals)

Tree-cycling
Many municipalities offer pick up and drop off services for Christmas trees after the holidays. Trees are ground into woodchips, diverting valuable materials from the landfill for landscaping use by municipalities and residents. Please remove all decorations, plastic bags, wires and tinsel first. Below you will find our annual guide to tree recycling programs in the area, including drop off locations, times, and instructions. Christmas trees can also be repurposed in a backyard brush pile to create habitats for wildlife, providing shelter, food, and a natural environment.

10/17/2025

All of my Windows 10 computers had free updates for a year when I clicked on updates.

09/27/2025

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Anker-Power-Banks-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Manufactured-by-Anker-Innovations-1?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=20250922

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled power banks and visit Anker’s Recall Page at https://www.anker.com/rc2506 to verify the product serial number and register for the recall. Consumers with an impacted product should contact Anker Innovations Limited to receive a full cash refund,...

09/27/2025

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Five-Below-Recalls-Tabletop-Fire-Pits-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Burn-Injury-from-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=20250922

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled tabletop fire pits and contact Five Below to receive a full refund equal to the purchase price or $5. Consumers who return the fire pit will receive a refund in the original form of payment, cash or store credit. Consumers can also send to Recalls...

09/07/2025

How to Stay on Windows 10 Without Paying $30: Microsoft Has 2 New Options | PCMag

The Extended Security Updates program was supposed to cost $30 for consumers who want to remain on Windows 10 beyond Oct. 14. But Microsoft is offering two cheaper ways to access it.

07/26/2025

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Curtis-International-Recalls-Frigidaire-brand-Minifridges-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-More-Than-700-000-Reported-in-Property-Damage?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=20250725

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled minifridges and follow the instructions to receive a refund at www.recallrtr.com/minifridge. Consumers should unplug and cut the power cord and write “Recall” using a permanent marker on the front door of the unit. Consumers should dispose of ...

07/11/2025

07/03/2025

Please try to remove Apple products from your account before recycling. These devices are reusable. Activation Locks Are Trashing Millions of Usable Phones, Refurbishers Tell the FCC

Activation locks are in the crossfire of repair advocates because they are preventing the reuse of perfectly functional devices, leading to unnecessary e-waste.

07/02/2025

Closed for the holiday on the 3rd and 4th

06/21/2025

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/AstroAI-Recalls-Minifridges-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Two-Fires-Resulted-in-More-Than-360000-in-Reported-Property-Damages?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=20250620

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled minifridges and contact AstroAI for a free replacement minifridge. To receive a replacement minifridge, consumers should send a photo of the recalled minifridge, showing the model number and serial number, with “Recalled” written on the minifr...

06/18/2025

NOTE: NEW Summer Hours

Monday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tuesday 10:00 - 3:00 pm

Wednesday 10:00 - 3:00 pm

Thursday 10:00 - 3:00 pm

Friday 10:00 - 3:00 pm

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed