If you live in New York and you're thinking about recycling that plastic tofu container or takeout box, think again. Did you know that only plastic bottles are recyclable in the city? It can get a little confusing knowing what to recycle or not, so jump below for a quick rundown...
1. Plastic bottles only. If you wouldn’t call it a bottle, it doesn’t get recycled. Yogurt containers, restaurant delivery containers and plastic cups do not make the cut. Plastic shopping bags technically don’t go with the plastic recycling, but they'll get sorted out along the way.
2. Recycle anything more than 50% metal. And it's okay to leave the labels on as they burn away when the metal is smelted.
3. Glass bottles and jars only.
4. Milk and juice cartons go in the bin with the plastic, glass and metal.
5. Recycle any and all paper, staples and all. They'll get sorted out later.
Check out NYC's Department of Sanitation for more recycling guidelines.
Image via Flickr member Doonvas licensed under Creative Commons.
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Technically, New York recycles #1 and #2 plastics, no? So any #1 or #2, even if it's not a bottle, should work. Why wouldn't it?
view bragan's profile
Bragen,
I think it has something to do with the machine that cleans and handles the bottles. The opening needs to be smaller than the main part (so it needs to be a bottle instead of a jar) in order for it the machine to grip the item.
view Vanessa in New York's profile
From the nyc.gov site:
PLACE IN TRASH OR DISPOSE PROPERLY:
plastic items other than plastic bottles & jugs (such as deli and yogurt containers; plastic toys, cups, wrap, etc. — if it's not a bottle or jug, DON'T put it in the recycling bin, place in trash).
I was surprised when I found out... disappointing.
view veggiequeen's profile
From what I understand, the process of making products other than bottles is different, which means that even #1's and #2's melt differently when they're not in bottle form. the #1 and #2 deli containers are much thinner than bottles, which makes me think that this recycling rumor might be right.
The other issue is that many of the deli containers aren't #1 or #2 and people are too lazy to sort out the other numbers, so it's easier for the city just to say no to non-bottle plastics.
Whole Foods at Union Square will take clean #5 plastics, and the park slope food coop will take non-bottle #1's and #2's, as well as #5's on certain days of the week.
view fancyd's profile
The park slope food coop no longer takes #2, all info on what and when is below:
http://www.foodcoop.com/go.php?id=112&PHPSESSID=3d45acd6166f155added21e9ba31a58d
view olga's profile