Gasparilla Party Recycling Tips

All hands, ahoy! Follow these guidelines to sort recycling loot and not bury this treasure.

Once the crowd moves on and it's time to clean up after Gasparilla festivities, you may be tempted to toss common party leftovers into the recycle bin. Follow these tips to sort your recyclables from trash.

Recycling treasure (place in recycling bins)

All items must be clean, empty, dry, and not bagged:

Plastic bottles and jugs
Steel, aluminum, and tin cans
Glass bottles and jars
Milk and juice cartons
Dry, flattened cardboard, including pizza boxes
Paperboard boxes (e.g., for crackers, cookies, pasta)
Paper (e.g., newspaper, junk mail)

Toss overboard (into the trash)

These items are typically small, dirty, or can damage recycling sorting equipment. It’s best to toss in the trash or bring select items to participating grocery stores for recycling.

Plastic cups, utensils, and takeout containers
Foam and aluminum food trays
Paper plates and napkins
Plastic bags, packaging, and film

Bead necklaces aren't recyclable in curbside bins. However, you can donate beads to local organizations where they will be cleaned and reused.

Sail to a Collection Center (free drop-off disposal is available for residents)

To keep the community safe, never place these items in your curbside trash or recycling bin. Instead, take them to a Community Collection Center for proper disposal or recycling:

Batteries (loose batteries 12 inches or smaller, power tool batteries)

Place alkaline batteries in garbage bin

Electronics (e.g., cellphones, computers, televisions)

Heave ho! Help keep Hillsborough clean

After the parade, the real treasure hunt begins! Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is Hillsborough’s anti-litter partner. Volunteer for the After Gasparilla Cleanups to help swab the decks.