Kitchen Recycling 101
Trying to figure out if food packaging is recyclable can be confusing, but I’m here to help. In this post, I’ll tell you all about what you can and can’t recycle in the kitchen.
Plastics
You should most def be recycling plastic containers. However, there are a few factors you need to consider…
Plastic Shapes
Those numbers on the bottom of plastics don’t matter as much as you think they do. Shape is actually a bigger determinant in whether or not something can be recycled. For example, even though the “clamshell” containers that often hold take-out food have the recycling symbol on the bottom, most recycling companies do not accept clamshell containers. Yes, I know this is buck wild and you feel like you’ve been lied to for your whole life. Jug, bottle and tub-shaped plastics are the most widely accepted, but everything else is a bit questionable. When in doubt, call your local recycling peeps and ask.
Dirty Plastics
Don’t recycle any plastic that still has food in it. Although food residue can be burned off of plastic during the recycling process, it can’t be removed from papers. Any food residue left on plastics could contaminate the papers in your (or someone else’s) recycling bin, and lead to an unusable batch of recycled paper. Scrub-a-dub-dub all of your plastic food and drink containers before recycling to avoid this contamination.
Caps on plastics
Many recycling companies will ask you to remove your bottles’ caps and rings before throwing them in the bin. However, some companies actually want you to leave caps on so that they can be properly recycled without slipping through the cracks. To find out if you should leave caps on or take them off, call your local waste removal company.
Labels on plastics
Most but not all recycling centers can recycle plastic containers with labels. This means it’s usually best to remove labels just in case, but don’t sweat it if the label is too difficult to remove. If you want to be an A+ sustainable citizen, give your recycling company a call and ask which is best.
Bottom line: For plastic jugs, bottles or tubs, clean them, strip them and recycle.
Cardboard
Cardboard and paperboard are a bit tricky. Although clean cardboards and paperboards with no coatings can be recycled, dirty cardboards and pseudo cardboards are another story….
Dirty Cardboard
Like I mentioned earlier with food-contaminated paper, you cannot recycle stained cardboard or paperboard (I’m looking at you, greasy pizza box). This is because the food particles mix and mingle with the broken up paper and cardboard during the recycling process and can’t be separated. Instead, compost your dirty cardboard or throw it in the trash.
Fake cardboard
Watch out for materials that are just pretending to be cardboard. Most frozen food boxes cannot be recycled because they’re actually a mix of paperboard and either wax or plastic.
Some cardboard packages also have added metallic or plastic bits that cannot be recycled. If you’re unsure, just look around the package for a recycling symbol. If the package seems to be a mix of plastic and paperboard and you can’t find a recycling symbol, toss it in the trash. Again, “when in doubt, throw it out.”
Bottom line: Dirty cardboard is a no-no. Beware fake cardboards and look for the recycle symbol.
Glass
If your glass is clear, brown or green and squeaky clean, then you can probably recycle that puppy! But there are a few other considerations…
Dirty glass
Like everything mentioned previously, wash your glass containers before trying to recycle. This will prevent contamination that could make paper items un-recyclable.
Caps and lids on glass
Most recycling companies want you to take off all the extra bits before you recycle glass, but other companies will let you leave on your caps. If you’re not sure what your recycling company wants, remove the extra bits until you can find out for sure.
Labels on glass
Like labels on plastic, most companies are okay with labels on glass because they get burned off in the recycling process. However, some companies can’t recycle glass with labels. To be safe, remove your labels until you can call your local waste removal company and find out for sure.