Should we clean out recycled bottles or just throw them out dirty?

Question

Before you get rid of our recycled bottles (plastic or glass) do you rinse them out or just get rid of them.

I always clean them, but isn't that a waste of water.

Answer 1

It does not matter, because they have to clean it anyway and sterilize it. But to get red-of the smell in your area it is better to clean it

Answer 2

Rinse them.

Answer 3

If you didn't rinse them out you would attract bugs, animals, and the worst flys and with them maggots. Keep rinsing.

Answer 4

dont waste too much water, but its better to rinse them with a tiny bit of water to remove the original liquid.

Answer 5

You do not need to clean them.  Your local or regional recycling plant crushes the bottles and goes through a process with both water and chemicals to clean them.  The only reason you would do this up front is if the recycling was sitting for a period of time and you don't want to attract critters or bugs.

But it's refreshing that people have the forethought to think about your actions and recycle.  Way to go!

Answer 6

I always give a quick rinse with just enough water to slosh around in the glass, plastic and aluminum containers we take to recycling.  The reason I do it is because it eliminates that foul odor they get otherwise, they're not unpleasant to handle, and they don't draw insects and pests.

Answer 7

Throw them out dirty. They are cleaned in China where they are recycled. Let China deal with water shortages. With all of the money China is making from recycling U.S. plastic it can make hundreds of desalination  plants.