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Residential Materials: M - Q

This page contains items for recycling or disposal that start with the letters "M - Q".  For a full listing, see the Index of Residential Materials.

• Marble or Slate (See Inert Materials.)
• Matches - Soak in water until saturated, then dispose in regular trash.
• Mattresses and Box Springs (See Furniture.)
• Medicine - DO NOT flush unused medicine down the toilet unless the label specifically directs you to do so. Never pour products down storm drains. DO throw unwanted medicine in the trash following these directions.  (See Home-Generated Medical Waste.)
• Mercury Containing Products (Thermometers, Switches, Other) - Take to a Household Hazardous Waste Site.
• Metal (See Scrap Metal, see Food & Beverage Cans.)
• Microwave Ovens (See Appliances.)
• Moth Balls - Take to a Household Hazardous Waste Site.
• Motor Oil (See Chemicals, Fuel.)
• Mixed Paper = cardboard, newspaper, cereal boxes, catalogs, magazines, office paper, colored paper, junk mail, telephone books, paper grocery bags, photographs  
  • Keep clean and dry. No need to separate.
  • Be sure to flatten all cardboard. Remove Styrofoam and plastic linings from boxes.
  • If you shred your paper first, please put it in a bag, prior to setting it out at the curb, to prevent litter.
  • Do not include items with food residue (e.g., pizza boxes) or boxes with a wax coating.
  • Mixed paper is collected curbside and is accepted at all recycling drop-off centers except Baron Cameron.  (NOTE: The Town of Herndon has separate seasonal collection of telephone books at their drop-off center.)
• Motorcycles (See Boats/Cars/Trucks/Motorcycles.)
• Nail Polish/Nail Remover - Take to a Household Hazardous Waste Site. If container is empty, it can be disposed of in the trash.
• Needles/Syringes (See Sharps & Medical Waste.)
• Newspaper (See Mixed Paper.)
• Oil (See Chemicals, Fuel.)
• Packaging Peanuts (See Styrofoam.)
• Paint
  • Oil or Lead-based Paint - Take to a Household Hazardous Waste Site. If container is empty, it can be disposed of in the trash.
  • Latex - let air dry and throw container in trash. (Tip:  You may pour the paint onto newspaper. Once it dries, roll up the newspaper and dispose of it in the trash.) If you are unable to let the latex paint dry, you may take the container to a Household Hazardous Waste Site.
• Pallets - Can be taken to the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex for disposal.
• Paper (See Mixed Paper.)
• Pesticides (See Chemicals, Pesticides/Herbicides.)
• Phone Books - (See Mixed Paper.)
• Photographs - (See Mixed Paper.)
• Photographic Chemicals (See Chemicals, Photographic.)
• Pizza Boxes - Used pizza containers are contaminated with food waste.  Please dispose in the trash.
• Plastic Bottles & Jugs
  • The only types of plastics that are required to be recycled in Fairfax County are plastic bottles and jugs.  Recycling any additional plastics is entirely voluntary.  Ask your trash hauler for specific guidance.  Many of them are now collecting additional plastics such as yogurt containers and margarine tubs – even pill bottles. 
  • At this time, only plastic bottles and jugs are accepted at area recycling drop-off centers. Remember, these are the only mandated plastics at this time.
• Plastic Wrap - Dispose of in the trash.
• Poisons - Take to a Household Hazardous Waste Site.
• Pool Chemicals (See Chemicals, Pool.)
• Power Tools - If the tool contains a rechargeable battery, please remove it. Take the battery to one of the listed locations for recycling or to a Household Hazardous Waste Site for disposal.  You may then take your metal power tool to the White Goods/Metal Recycling Area of the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex.  Plastic power tools are not accepted.
• Printer Cartridges
  • Liquid or flammable cartridges need to be disposed of as household hazardous waste.
  • All others can be disposed of in regular trash.
  • Some office supply stores accept used toner cartridges for recycling.  Inquire at nearby stores to find out if they provide this service.  

See Also:
Materials for Recycling or Disposal