Richmond residents can now recycle a greater range of bottles and food containers, the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority has announced.

According to the authority, effective immediately, all plastic bottles and food containers as well as waxy containers for milk and juice can be put in the recycling can.

However, the authority still is not accepting plastic bags, Styrofoam or food-contaminated pizza boxes.

Still, this is a major change for the authority and addresses longstanding requests from many residents, said Kim Haynes, the authority’s executive director.

“CVWMA is always looking for cost effective ways to enhance existing programs to make recycling easier and to reduce the amount of waste going to local landfills,” Ms. Haynes stated in announcing the change.

She said the change means the authority is finally joining recycling programs nationwide that accept waxy cartons and all types of plastic bottles and food containers.