Paper, metals, and glass are being recycled in Philadelphia. Plastics and corrugated cardboard are not being recycled at the present time.

Recyclables are collected in the neighborhoods of KRF buildings on alternate Tuesdays. Check the online KRF bulletin Board (www.krf.icodat.com/news) to verify the week. Set appropriate items at the curb along with trash, but in separate containers.

You can put bottles, jars, and cans in any household containers – or use one of the blue recycling pails the city wasted so much money to buy. If you use an ordinary container, you're supposed to mark it "recycling," although the people from the Streets Department can usually guess what you had in mind for that wastebasket full of empty bottles. Bottles and jars are supposed to be empty, unbroken, and have lids removed. Aerosol cans are accepted with caps removed, and paint cans are ok as long as the contents have been air-dried.

Paper can include newspapers, junk mail, phone books, magazines and catalogs, cereal and other "paperboard" non-corrugated boxes, writing and other "office-type" paper, and so forth. Put these items in paper bags – ideally marked "recycling" although they'll probably figure it out if they're not labeled – or just tie them in bundles.

As an alternative way to recover the value of old newspapers, at any time, bring them to The Second Mile Center thrift shop Bric-a-Brac outlet on 45th St across from the KRF office. This store uses old newspapers as a packing material. Hours are 10:00 am through 8:00 pm on weekdays, 10:00 am through 5:00 pm on Saturday. Oh, yes. You're allowed to shop there, too.

For more information, check the website at http://recycling.phila.gov