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1. What plastics can I recycle curbside?

Plastic bottles and tubs (six or more ounces), buckets (five gallons or less), and rigid nursery pots (four or more inches) can all be recycled in your curbside container. Please rinse the containers of all food and debris.

Resist the temptation to add other items that seem similar or recyclable to you. The following plastics should not be placed curbside: Plastic bags and other film plastic, bubble wrap, take out containers, plastic lids, garden hoses or Styrofoam. Plastics recycling is challenging and we ask that you do your best to recycling only allowed plastics curbside.

2. Can I leave caps on my plastic bottles?

We do request that caps be removed from bottles. This is to ensure that the bottle is empty. Also, when left on the bottle the cap can pop off at the recycling center during the sorting process and cause harm to the employees or end up in the paper recycling where it is garbage.

3. Do plastic tubs have to be 100% clean?

Food debris must be removed from all materials that will be recycled so that they do not contaminate the recycling process and do not attract pests.

4. Are plastic plant pots recyclable?

Yes, rigid plant pots at least four inches across (round or square) are recyclable, and can be placed in your mixed recycling roll cart. Please knock off any excess dirt, you do not need to wash them. 

5. What can I do with block Styrofoam or packing peanuts?

Styrofoam (Expanded Polystyrene-EPS) is not collected as part of curbside recycling. Your hauler may refuse to collect your recycling if there is Styrofoam in the container. There are limited recycling options for block foam packaging. For the most up to date information please visit Metro’s Find A Recycler page.

Many shipping stores will accept clean packaging peanuts for reuse. Visit Metro’s Find A Recycler to find a location near you.

6. Where can I recycle plastic bags?

Most grocery stores offer recycling for clean, dry plastic bags. Typically, collection containers are located near the entrance of the store, often near the produce section.

Watch this video to see one way plastic bags are recycled.