With a little knowledge and effort, we can recycle more plastics – even while hosting a party.
One of your guests finishes, holds up the empty plastic bottle and asks: “Where do I toss this?” You’ve got that covered… You point to the recycling bin that you set up so your guests can recycle more of your party plastics (and other recyclables).
Here’s a quick set of tips on how to recycle plastics at your parties.
First, Check Your Community Recycling Guidelines
All recycling is local. Check your local government/recycler website to see what’s recyclable.
Bottles
Think: soft drinks, water, mixers, juice, liquor, salad dressing, condiments… Any plastic container with a neck smaller than its base is a bottle… and a prime candidate for your recycling bin. (See note on caps below.)
Containers
Plastic containers for dips, sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, peanut butter… i.e., non-bottle vessels. Recycle these, too.
Caps & Lids
Those bottles and containers typically are topped with plastic caps/lids: screw caps, squirty tops, snap-on lids. Recyclers want those, too. Twist or snap on the plastic caps/lids before recycling.
Reuse Plastic Takeout & Delivery Containers
Those handy plastic takeout and delivery containers with snap-on lids are eminently reusable. Send leftovers home with your friends and family, store screws in your closet, organize your bead collection… whatever. Then recycle them when they’re no longer needed.
Clear Clamshells
Think: premixed greens, clear berry boxes, takeout containers, ready-to-eat snacks from supermarkets sold in hinged containers (i.e., containers that open and close like a clam). Most communities accept clean plastic clamshells for recycling… but check with your local recycler.
Bags/Wraps
Flexible plastic bags and wraps are recycled differently. Instead of tossing them in your curbside bin (don’t!), you can deposit plastic bags and wraps in specially marked recycling bins at participating grocery and retail stores. These bins are usually located by the entrance.
Cups
Maybe. Some communities accept plastic cups and some do not. Check your local recycling program. Avoid the temptation to toss something in the recycling bin and hope your recycler can process it. That’s called “wish-cycling.” It makes recycling much more difficult and expensive.
If you’re unsure an item is recyclable, “When in doubt, leave it out” of your recycling bin.
Chips and Snack Bags
Nope. Not typically accepted for curbside recycling. But plastics recycling folks are working on it.
Closing the Recycling Loop
You’re an important part of the plastics recycling chain for two reasons:
- You toss plastics in the recycling bin.
- You can buy items made with recycled plastics.
Recycling works best when we recycle our plastic items and also buy products made with recycled plastics. When party planning, look for food and drinks sold in recycled plastic bottles and containers. Just check the label… and help close the recycling loop.
One final tip: rinse and empty your recyclables. It helps recyclers. Cheers to a great party and a healthier planet.
What Can Consumers Do to Improve Plastics Recycling?
- Recycle right: find out what plastics can and can’t go in your recycling bin.
- Choose products made with recycled plastics.
- Support policies and policymakers that help improve U.S. recycling systems
What Can Policymakers Do to Improve Recycling?
- Support policies for plastics recycling that increase demand for recycled content.
- Set clear, consistent national plastics recycling standards to help Americans recycle right.
- Support policies that unleash advanced recycling technologies for plastics and private investment.
- Support out “3-Point Plan to Recycle More Plastics and Strengthen American Manufacturing” to modernize out nation’s outdated recycling infrastructure.
Sign up to learn more about plastics recycling and how you can help support policies to recycle more plastics.
