Plastic containers

Recyclable plastic containers

Examples: Cooking oil • Detergent bottles • Milk jugs • Soda bottles • Tub containers (such as yogurt, cottage cheese and butter tubs) • Clamshell and other to-go containers • Cups

How clean do your recyclables need to be? Recycling standards are getting stricter. The market is requiring high-quality materials. Bottles and containers need to be empty of food and liquid. Instead of using clean tap water, rinse recyclable containers in used dishwater, or wipe with a gently used paper towel or napkin (which can then be placed in the green organics bin).

The well-recognized “chasing arrows” symbol we see on plastic containers and products does not mean the product is recyclable. The little number inside the triangle tells the real story.

Within each chasing arrows triangle, there is a number which ranges from one to seven. The purpose of the number is to identify the type of plastic used for the product, and not all plastics are recyclable or even reusable. There are numerous plastic-based products that cannot break down and cannot be recycled.

Related topics:

See Curbside Services: Blue Cart
See CA Redemption Value (CRV) to redeem money for CRV plastic bottles
See Plastic - rigid items