Can I recycle disposable plates, cups, bowls, etc?

Question

I notice that styrofoam bowls, plactic cups and other disposable products have a recycle logo on the bottom. How can I recycle them if they are contaminated with food?

Answer 1

The vast majority of places won't take them.  My local recycling center won't take anything that has touched food, including cereal boxes!  How stupid is that?

Answer 2

Styrofoam is generally very bad for the environment and you should try not to use it at all. If you are using disposable dishes and cups try to go with paper products which won't sit in a landfill as long. Also, be careful if you are going to reuse plastic untensils. I recently read somewhere that because they aren't made to be washed again and again you may get some of their chemicals and toxins in your food. I will try to find a link for it if I can...

Answer 3

wash them first...when they go to the recyling center the get thoroughly washed again so dont worry too much but be sure to get most of the residue off : )

Answer 4

we do at our home. the grandchildren came from arizona last summer, and we wrote their names on plastic cups they used so they would reuse them continuously during the day. we washed them with the dishes nightly. they are preparing to come again, and we still have their plastic cups they used last year.

also, we reuse plastic utensils instead of throwing them away. as far as styrofoam, we try not to use it at all. when it does come our way, however, it can be washed, broken into small pieces, mixed with fertilizer and used in containers for house plants. it works incredibly well.

Answer 5

wash them, then recycle them or if u have a green bin u can recycle some paper plates there

Answer 6

Rinsing them will help, but remember there is an energy cost to doing that which may be greater than the value of the cup.  Also, as stated, very few places recycle styrofoam.  It is important to not recycle things that your facility cannot handle - contamination by incompatible plastics is one of the biggest reasons for batches of plastics to have to be discarded in a landfill.

A better way is not use them - carry or keep regular dishes and cups in the places that you use them.  Just rinse or wipe them when you're done and wash them when you have a chance.

DK

Answer 7

Depending where you are you might be able to, but right now styrofoam recycling facilities are very limited in the States.  So are facilities that recycle the kind of plastic that they make cups out of.

Many products will have recycling logos on the bottom with a number that indicates what kind of material it is, but not everyone will be able to recycle them in their area because there is no facility for those items in their area.  Check with you sanitation department  or local governmental office (mayor's office etc) if you don't know what can and can't be recycled in your area.

After you find this out, you can make a more educated decision about the disposable products you use.