Do you wash your recycling plastic, glass, aluminum before you put it in the recycle bin?

Question

Seems kind of contrary to the point of recycling if you wash it with the wasted water and soap and energy for heating the water. However, it is somewhat disgusting to have bacteria gathering in cans and jars in your recycle bin for the week.

Anybody have any good solutions (or opinions) on this?

Answer 1

I rinse them, and watch the sharp edges on the cans. I have a covered container outside for the cans to be recycled. The glass is easier to wash out.

Answer 2

put a little baking soda in the bag.

Answer 3

I usually wash it in the used washing up water - nothing extra used, and the smell is gone!. Just have to be a bit careful when the can has a sharp edge!

Answer 4

no just recycle it and save the water. during the winter the bacteria won't grow if you keep your recycle bin out or in the garage

Answer 5

Yes. I always wash or rinse. If you just do it with regular dish washing I wouldn't think you're wasting water. I think it's just the nice thing to do for the workers.

Answer 6

Garbage smells.  Get over it.

Answer 7

Yes

Answer 8

yes,wash your recycle containers. if you keep them in the garage, the won't smell, and if you keep it outside, to keep the animals out of it.  not to mention the ants, roaches, and other insects.

Answer 9

Let's try washing the recycle as environmentally friendly as we can and use kindness to answer the ?'s

Answer 10

I DEFINITELY rinse out milk cartons... but the other things I do not give much concern too!

Answer 11

Yes, I wash at my Big Apple home and visting area in Ohio.

Same goes for juice box/milk cartoons.

Answer 12

The councils want you to wash the items because the recycling companies who buy them give the council a reduced price to offset the cost of cleansing.

As the councils don't pass any of the monies made from recycling to the public, I'm not going to do their work for them.

Answer 13

I usually give them a quick rinse, but I don't wash them like the dishes. It seems cleaner, but is probably not necessary. Anyway, all water is recycled. Water is a renewable resource that gets recycled by rain falling.

Answer 14

I rinse them because i used to work at a recycling facility and it's revolting.  Here's an example:  sugar in drink cans > alcohol > acetic acid > corroded shoes.  Another one:  cat food > maggots.  Not nice.  It may not be particularly sound, but think of the people who have to deal with it afterwards please.

Answer 15

Yes, if you don't it will draw vermin, and I don't want these critters in my house.

Answer 16

Recyclables should be rinsed. If bacteria or mould start to grow on the recyclables, they get sent to the dump anyways, because they will compromise the end product of recycling anyways. In some systems they may get sprayed at the recycling plant, however this is likely just a rinse.

If you just wash recyclables as part of your normal dish load, then you won't be wasting extra water.

Answer 17

Take a basin or some sort of smallish container in with you next time you shower, place it directly in front of you, (be careful not to trip), after your shower place the item in the basin for a minute or two then it should rinse out with just one fill up of cold water from the tap.  Just a thought?