How Can Decals Show What Can and Cannot Go in Recycling Bins?

Common Questions About Recycling Bin Labels

Where can I find custom stickers for recycling bins?

You can order custom recycling bin labels directly from Decals.com. Upload your own artwork or use our online design tools to build a label with the right icons, color coding, and text, then choose your size, shape, and material. The finished labels print in as fast as 1 business day and ship straight to your address, so you're not stuck hunting for generic printable templates that don't fit your bins.

What is the best way to label garbage bins so people actually sort correctly?

The labels that work best combine three things: a consistent color code across your whole bin set, a large clear icon (bottle, can, paper, food scrap), and short text that spells out exactly what goes in and what doesn't. Placing a matching label on the lid and the front of the bin, at eye level, cuts down on guesswork far more than a single small label tucked on the side, and avoids the common design mistakes that make labels hard to read.

What are the 7 recycling symbols, and can I print them on a custom label?

The numbers 1 through 7 inside the triangle (the resin identification codes) indicate the type of plastic a container is made from, such as PET (1), HDPE (2), PVC (3), LDPE (4), PP (5), PS (6), and Other (7). They don't automatically mean an item is accepted in your local program, which is why many facilities pair the symbols with plain-language text on their bin labels. Yes, these symbols can be printed on your custom recycling container labels alongside whatever accept/reject wording your program requires.

Do you need to take labels off cans and bottles before recycling them?

Most curbside programs accept cans and bottles with their original paper or plastic labels still attached, since the recycling process separates materials during sorting. If your program has specific instructions otherwise, a clear waste sorting label on the bin itself (noting exceptions like caps, lids, or labels) is the easiest way to communicate that to everyone using the bin.

What material should I choose for recycling bin labels used outdoors?

For plastic bins that sit outside, High Tack Calendered Vinyl is the better call. Most recycling carts are molded from polyethylene, a plastic that standard adhesives struggle to grip, and high-tack vinyl's aggressive adhesive holds on for 3 to 5 years outdoors. Painted steel dumpsters take Standard Vinyl (3 to 5 years) or Premium Vinyl (up to 7 years) well. Removable vinyl is better suited to indoor bins or short-term programs, with a 1 to 3 year lifespan. Our guide on choosing the right decal finish breaks down the tradeoffs in more detail.

What sizes and shapes are available for recycling container labels?

Decals print from 2" x 2" up to 120" x 50", so the same design can run as a small lid label or a large panel on a dumpster, and you can choose a circle, oval, square, rectangle, rounded-corner, or fully custom die-cut shape to match your bin's lid or body. If you're deciding between a clean die-cut edge or a kiss-cut sheet format, this breakdown of die-cut and kiss-cut stickers explains how each one is cut and applied.

Do you offer bulk pricing for schools, offices, or apartment complexes ordering multiple bin labels?

Yes. Orders start at a minimum of 1 unit for most label products, and tiered bulk pricing kicks in at 50 units and up, with quantity breaks available up through the thousands. That makes it practical to standardize recycling bin labels across every unit in a building, every classroom in a school, or every bin in a multi-location retail chain.