Recycle metal cans, lids, and foil only. Your coffee cans follow the rule, but the nails, screws, and bolts don’t.

Q: We have been cleaning out the garage and have uncovered at least two coffee cans full of nails, screws, bolts, etc. How do I recycle or throw them away? — E.C., East Greenwich

A: To determine whether or not any metal item can be recycled in your bin or cart, simply test it against the basic rule for metal in R.I.’s mixed recycling program: Recycle metal cans, lids, and foil only. Your coffee cans follow the rule, but the nails, screws, and bolts don’t. The only option for recycling metal items that are not cans, lids, or foil is through a special program.

Some cities and towns keep scrap metal containers at their recycling center, transfer station, or Department of Public Works (DPW) yard. In addition, there are also private scrap metal recyclers in the state. Depending on the program, you may be limited to recycling bulky scrap metal items, versus small things like your nails, screws, and bolts. A perfect example is your local program in East Greenwich, E.C., where only bulky scrap metal items are picked up curbside, whereas small metal items (like yours) would have to be dropped off at the East Greenwich Transfer Station. Find more local information at atoz.rirrc.org/items/scrap-metal.

Don’t forget that the state’s mixed recycling program is designed to capture single-use items that you’re going through at home, school, or in the office with regularity: paper, cardboard, cartons, metal cans/lids, metal foil, glass bottles, glass jars, and plastic containers. We can’t accept every single-use item this way (e.g. no foam containers, please!), but we sure do accept a lot of them. We can take them in mixed (making for efficient collection) and sort them out safely, accurately, and affordably. For the things you only need to get rid of once in a while (e.g. during periodic house cleaning), these are usually only recyclable if you’re willing to take advantage of a special program. Even at that, I’m not one to advocate for getting into the car and driving to a drop-off container every time you come across something. That’s not practical and burning the extra gas isn’t in anyone’s best interest. Instead, you’ll always hear me just ask you to consider setting these things aside for an occasional trip. I drive to Resource Recovery five days a week and even I only lug things here every year or two.

The other option you have for your nails, screws, and bolts is, of course, the trash. If you go that route, it’s not a bad idea to keep them contained in some way. We sweep the roads here at Resource Recovery regularly, but most of us have had our fair share of nails in tires! The same probably goes for your local recycling center, transfer station, or DPW yard. Nails, screws, bolts, etc., can be sharp and easily break through a trash bag. If you’re tossing out a ton at once, any effort to secure them is appreciated.

— Krystal Noiseux is the education and outreach manager at RIRRC. Send your question, including the city or town from which you're writing, to Trash Tutorial, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. Or email features@providencejournal.com and put "Trash Tutorial" in the subject field.