Should one use Water to wash cans/bottles for recycling? Which is more valuable?

Question

Reason for washing cans/bottles before recycling is to prevent vermins invading recyclables before pickup day.

Answer 1

Try to use recycled water.  You can use the rinse water from washing dishes...I use the rinse water from dishes for many things.   I recycle the hot rinse water from my dishwasher (or when washing dishes manually)  into my clothes washing machine.  The rinse water is actually quite clean. It is certainly cleaner than the clothes tub of fresh water is after after you put dirty clothes in it.  This also saves the fuel used to heat water.

Answer 2

Yes, I use a high pressure spray from my garden hose to clean everything.  This prevents problems with vermins.

Answer 3

Wash them in water you have used for something else (grey water) from dish washing or similar, at least the water has been put to more than one use. The cans, foil, glass and plastic containers dont have to be fit to eat from, just free from contaminants.

Answer 4

Water is a renewable resource (in moderation, sensibly, of course).  The metal in cans is mined and that causes harm to the earth, digging, plus using a lot of energy that also has bad environmental effects (climate change).  So recycling metal cans helps the environment much more than the bit of wash water hurts it.  Recycling glass from bottles is also quite a big industry with environmental benefits (not as big benefits as metal).

Answer 5

I agree with John B.

Answer 6

I just wash mine and treat them as another dish when it comes to cleaning. They may not go to the recycling center for several months (I don't get that many cans/jars/bottles in a week), and I don't want the smell and related problems. We don't have pick up here as it's mainly very small town/rural and would be cost prohibitive.

Answer 7

I put my recyclables down the toilet to prevent vermin's

Answer 8

I wait to wash all my cans and bottles that  am going to recycle untill I do my dishes and then use my dish water to clean them out. saves out on the water I think.