{"id":1915603,"date":"2026-05-03T15:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T12:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1915603"},"modified":"2026-05-03T15:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T12:01:17","slug":"the-7-things-youre-tossing-in-the-recycling-bin-that-dont-belong-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1915603","title":{"rendered":"The 7 Things You’re Tossing in the Recycling Bin That Don’t Belong There"},"content":{"rendered":"
That instinct to drop anything plastic, paper or cardboard into the recycling bin is hard to shake, but it’s also one of the biggest reasons recycling programs struggle. A single grease-stained pizza box, black plastic clamshell or unrinsed yogurt cup can throw off the sorting process at recycling facilities, and the result isn’t just a few items being pulled aside. In many cases, contamination leads to entire truckloads of recyclables getting rerouted to the landfill.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Walters is a sustainability ambassador for Republic Services, one of the nation’s largest recycling companies. He’s seen the effects of wish-cycling firsthand. Walters walked me through the most common mistakes people make when recycling food-service packaging, bags and containers at home — and what to do instead.<\/p>\n
Below, you’ll find his tips for recycling and a list of containers that can and cannot be recycled at most facilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How to properly recycle takeout containers<\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Styrofoam containers are a scorch on the environment. If you feel comfortable asking your local takeout spot to stop using them, you probably should.<\/p>\n
1. Do some recycling research:\u00a0<\/strong>The most important thing you can do to streamline the process is find out which containers can and can’t be recycled in your area. Depending on where you live, this will likely vary, so you’ll need to check with your local sanitation department, often via its website.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
2. Don’t assume it can be recycled:<\/strong> Just because a takeout container has a recycling symbol on it doesn’t mean it can be recycled where you live. Some cheaper producers of takeout containers will label items as recyclable even if they’re not. <\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
3. Give ’em a good rinse:<\/strong>\u00a0When recycling takeout containers, ensure they’re as clean as possible. Residual food waste, especially grease, can make a material<\/em>\u00a0unrecyclable.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
What follows are general rules and guidelines on which takeout containers can and can’t be recycled, as well as how to recycle them effectively. <\/p>\n
Read more<\/strong>:\u00a0Some Blue Apron Meal Kits Are Cheaper Than Buying the Groceries<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
7 takeout containers that can’t be recycled<\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Most black plastic takeout containers are not recyclable.<\/p>\n
Polystyrene <\/strong>foam containers, often referred to as “Styrofoam,” are widely used for takeout and delivery, so you’ve likely seen them. Unfortunately, they aren’t recyclable and must be thrown out.<\/li>\n
Black plastic containers:\u00a0<\/strong>These are another popular choice for restaurants and while they are often\u00a0made<\/em>\u00a0from recycled materials — making them at least somewhat eco-friendly — they can’t be recycled and must be tossed. According to Walters, recycling plant sorting technology hasn’t yet kept pace with these materials.<\/li>\n
Chinese containers and clamshells:<\/strong>\u00a0This is another type of container that could, in theory, be recycled, but because oil often seeps into the cardboard, you’re better off throwing it away. Also, many are coated with a sealant, making them leak-proof and difficult to recycle.<\/li>\n
Oil-stained pizza boxes:\u00a0<\/strong>Theoretically, corrugated cardboard can be recycled but not when it’s soaked in oil or caked with cheese. Happy medium: Take the top portion of the box if it’s free from petroleum and recycle that with your cardboard. The bottom half will likely need to be trashed.\u00a0<\/li>\n
Plastic bags:\u00a0<\/strong>Your food is often delivered in plastic bags, but they aren’t recyclable and can cause harm to your local recycling facilities.\u202fTo dispose of plastic bags, return them to the store where you got them or reuse them. Better yet, don’t use them at all; instead, request a paper bag.<\/li>\n
Plastic utensils:\u00a0<\/strong>Not everything made from plastic is recyclable, and the recycling of plastic utensils typically depends on your local facility. Therefore, check with your service provider for details. Even better, when you place your order, let the restaurant know you don’t need plastic utensils.<\/li>\n
Soiled paper plates and napkins: <\/strong>These items are not recyclable\u202fwhen soiled with food and liquid, so look for reusable, biodegradable or authentic disposable products instead.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Chinese takeout containers mostly can’t be recycled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some cities, such as Austin, Texas, have\u00a0curbside composting\u00a0for food-soiled paper products. A program like this may not be available in your community but it doesn’t hurt to check. And\u00a0Block Bins, a shared-bin composting startup launched in Chicago, provides a similar service even if your town or city doesn’t.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Read more:<\/strong>\u00a0Microwave-Free Zone: Expert Hacks for Reheating Leftovers\u00a0<\/p>\n
5 takeout containers that can be recycled <\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Aluminum containers are recyclable and easy to get clean.<\/p>\n
Plastic clamshell containers:<\/strong>\u00a0Clear plastic takeout containers with a recycling symbol can be recycled. If it’s a\u00a0plastic\u00a0container labeled No. 1 or No. 2, you can recycle it and should whenever possible.\u00a0 <\/li>\n
Aluminum containers:<\/strong>\u00a0You know the ones you can never close as tightly as the restaurant did the first time, no matter how much you pinch? Yeah, those are recyclable as long as they’re clean. <\/li>\n
Paper or cardboard containers:<\/strong>\u00a0These are often made from recycled materials\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0can be recycled themselves. Some are biodegradable and compostable, as long as they are thoroughly cleaned and haven’t absorbed much grease. Even ones that aren’t recyclable are far less toxic than plastic or Styrofoam when being processed, burned or buried.\u00a0 <\/li>\n
Paper bags:<\/strong>\u00a0Many restaurants send their orders in large paper bags and those absolutely can and should be recycled or reused. Plastic bags, on the other hand, can’t be. <\/li>\n
Clean paper products<\/strong>: Paper plates, napkins, and cardboard pizza boxes that are not<\/strong> heavily soiled with grease can generally be recycled. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
What else can you do to help? <\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Your favorite local food joint may not even know about some of the more eco-friendly container options.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you feel comfortable gently letting your local restaurant know you’d appreciate them using one of the many environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic and polystyrene, you should. You could also send a polite, anonymous email expressing your appreciation for the food and service, but with one small request on behalf of the Earth.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
For more green stuff, check out our list of the\u00a0most environmentally friendly meal kits<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and learn\u00a0how to properly recycle metal cans<\/span><\/span>. Yes, pizza boxes can be recycled — but only the parts without grease.Wishful thinking won’t make these items fit for the blue bin. <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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DAVID WATSKY<\/span><\/div>\n
Managing Editor \/ Home and Kitchen<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
David lives in Brooklyn where he’s spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips. <\/p>\n
David earned his BA from Northeastern and has toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. <\/p>\n
Right now he’s likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or tinkering with a toaster. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.<\/span> See full bio <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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That instinct to drop anything plastic, paper or cardboard into the recycling bin is hard to shake, but it’s also one of the biggest reasons recycling programs struggle. A single grease-stained pizza box, black plastic clamshell or unrinsed yogurt cup can throw off the sorting process at recycling facilities, and the result isn’t just a few items being pulled aside. In many cases, contamination leads to entire truckloads of recyclables getting rerouted to the landfill.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Walters is a sustainability ambassador for Republic Services, one of the nation’s largest recycling companies. He’s seen the effects of wish-cycling firsthand. Walters walked me through the most common mistakes people make when recycling food-service packaging, bags and containers at home — and what to do instead.<\/p>\n
Below, you’ll find his tips for recycling and a list of containers that can and cannot be recycled at most facilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How to properly recycle takeout containers<\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Styrofoam containers are a scorch on the environment. If you feel comfortable asking your local takeout spot to stop using them, you probably should.<\/p>\n
1. Do some recycling research:\u00a0<\/strong>The most important thing you can do to streamline the process is find out which containers can and can’t be recycled in your area. Depending on where you live, this will likely vary, so you’ll need to check with your local sanitation department, often via its website.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
2. Don’t assume it can be recycled:<\/strong> Just because a takeout container has a recycling symbol on it doesn’t mean it can be recycled where you live. Some cheaper producers of takeout containers will label items as recyclable even if they’re not. <\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
3. Give ’em a good rinse:<\/strong>\u00a0When recycling takeout containers, ensure they’re as clean as possible. Residual food waste, especially grease, can make a material<\/em>\u00a0unrecyclable.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
What follows are general rules and guidelines on which takeout containers can and can’t be recycled, as well as how to recycle them effectively. <\/p>\n
Read more<\/strong>:\u00a0Some Blue Apron Meal Kits Are Cheaper Than Buying the Groceries<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
7 takeout containers that can’t be recycled<\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Most black plastic takeout containers are not recyclable.<\/p>\n
Polystyrene <\/strong>foam containers, often referred to as “Styrofoam,” are widely used for takeout and delivery, so you’ve likely seen them. Unfortunately, they aren’t recyclable and must be thrown out.<\/li>\n
Black plastic containers:\u00a0<\/strong>These are another popular choice for restaurants and while they are often\u00a0made<\/em>\u00a0from recycled materials — making them at least somewhat eco-friendly — they can’t be recycled and must be tossed. According to Walters, recycling plant sorting technology hasn’t yet kept pace with these materials.<\/li>\n
Chinese containers and clamshells:<\/strong>\u00a0This is another type of container that could, in theory, be recycled, but because oil often seeps into the cardboard, you’re better off throwing it away. Also, many are coated with a sealant, making them leak-proof and difficult to recycle.<\/li>\n
Oil-stained pizza boxes:\u00a0<\/strong>Theoretically, corrugated cardboard can be recycled but not when it’s soaked in oil or caked with cheese. Happy medium: Take the top portion of the box if it’s free from petroleum and recycle that with your cardboard. The bottom half will likely need to be trashed.\u00a0<\/li>\n
Plastic bags:\u00a0<\/strong>Your food is often delivered in plastic bags, but they aren’t recyclable and can cause harm to your local recycling facilities.\u202fTo dispose of plastic bags, return them to the store where you got them or reuse them. Better yet, don’t use them at all; instead, request a paper bag.<\/li>\n
Plastic utensils:\u00a0<\/strong>Not everything made from plastic is recyclable, and the recycling of plastic utensils typically depends on your local facility. Therefore, check with your service provider for details. Even better, when you place your order, let the restaurant know you don’t need plastic utensils.<\/li>\n
Soiled paper plates and napkins: <\/strong>These items are not recyclable\u202fwhen soiled with food and liquid, so look for reusable, biodegradable or authentic disposable products instead.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Chinese takeout containers mostly can’t be recycled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some cities, such as Austin, Texas, have\u00a0curbside composting\u00a0for food-soiled paper products. A program like this may not be available in your community but it doesn’t hurt to check. And\u00a0Block Bins, a shared-bin composting startup launched in Chicago, provides a similar service even if your town or city doesn’t.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Read more:<\/strong>\u00a0Microwave-Free Zone: Expert Hacks for Reheating Leftovers\u00a0<\/p>\n
5 takeout containers that can be recycled <\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Aluminum containers are recyclable and easy to get clean.<\/p>\n
Plastic clamshell containers:<\/strong>\u00a0Clear plastic takeout containers with a recycling symbol can be recycled. If it’s a\u00a0plastic\u00a0container labeled No. 1 or No. 2, you can recycle it and should whenever possible.\u00a0 <\/li>\n
Aluminum containers:<\/strong>\u00a0You know the ones you can never close as tightly as the restaurant did the first time, no matter how much you pinch? Yeah, those are recyclable as long as they’re clean. <\/li>\n
Paper or cardboard containers:<\/strong>\u00a0These are often made from recycled materials\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0can be recycled themselves. Some are biodegradable and compostable, as long as they are thoroughly cleaned and haven’t absorbed much grease. Even ones that aren’t recyclable are far less toxic than plastic or Styrofoam when being processed, burned or buried.\u00a0 <\/li>\n
Paper bags:<\/strong>\u00a0Many restaurants send their orders in large paper bags and those absolutely can and should be recycled or reused. Plastic bags, on the other hand, can’t be. <\/li>\n
Clean paper products<\/strong>: Paper plates, napkins, and cardboard pizza boxes that are not<\/strong> heavily soiled with grease can generally be recycled. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
What else can you do to help? <\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Your favorite local food joint may not even know about some of the more eco-friendly container options.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you feel comfortable gently letting your local restaurant know you’d appreciate them using one of the many environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic and polystyrene, you should. You could also send a polite, anonymous email expressing your appreciation for the food and service, but with one small request on behalf of the Earth.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
For more green stuff, check out our list of the\u00a0most environmentally friendly meal kits<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and learn\u00a0how to properly recycle metal cans<\/span><\/span>. Yes, pizza boxes can be recycled — but only the parts without grease.Wishful thinking won’t make these items fit for the blue bin. <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
That instinct to drop anything plastic, paper or cardboard into the recycling bin is hard to shake, but it’s also one of the biggest reasons recycling programs struggle. A single grease-stained pizza box, black plastic clamshell or unrinsed yogurt cup can throw off the sorting process at recycling facilities, and the result isn’t just a few items being pulled aside. In many cases, contamination leads to entire truckloads of recyclables getting rerouted to the landfill.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Walters is a sustainability ambassador for Republic Services, one of the nation’s largest recycling companies. He’s seen the effects of wish-cycling firsthand. Walters walked me through the most common mistakes people make when recycling food-service packaging, bags and containers at home — and what to do instead.<\/p>\n
Below, you’ll find his tips for recycling and a list of containers that can and cannot be recycled at most facilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How to properly recycle takeout containers<\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Styrofoam containers are a scorch on the environment. If you feel comfortable asking your local takeout spot to stop using them, you probably should.<\/p>\n
1. Do some recycling research:\u00a0<\/strong>The most important thing you can do to streamline the process is find out which containers can and can’t be recycled in your area. Depending on where you live, this will likely vary, so you’ll need to check with your local sanitation department, often via its website.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
2. Don’t assume it can be recycled:<\/strong> Just because a takeout container has a recycling symbol on it doesn’t mean it can be recycled where you live. Some cheaper producers of takeout containers will label items as recyclable even if they’re not. <\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
3. Give ’em a good rinse:<\/strong>\u00a0When recycling takeout containers, ensure they’re as clean as possible. Residual food waste, especially grease, can make a material<\/em>\u00a0unrecyclable.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
What follows are general rules and guidelines on which takeout containers can and can’t be recycled, as well as how to recycle them effectively. <\/p>\n
Read more<\/strong>:\u00a0Some Blue Apron Meal Kits Are Cheaper Than Buying the Groceries<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
7 takeout containers that can’t be recycled<\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Most black plastic takeout containers are not recyclable.<\/p>\n
Polystyrene <\/strong>foam containers, often referred to as “Styrofoam,” are widely used for takeout and delivery, so you’ve likely seen them. Unfortunately, they aren’t recyclable and must be thrown out.<\/li>\n
Black plastic containers:\u00a0<\/strong>These are another popular choice for restaurants and while they are often\u00a0made<\/em>\u00a0from recycled materials — making them at least somewhat eco-friendly — they can’t be recycled and must be tossed. According to Walters, recycling plant sorting technology hasn’t yet kept pace with these materials.<\/li>\n
Chinese containers and clamshells:<\/strong>\u00a0This is another type of container that could, in theory, be recycled, but because oil often seeps into the cardboard, you’re better off throwing it away. Also, many are coated with a sealant, making them leak-proof and difficult to recycle.<\/li>\n
Oil-stained pizza boxes:\u00a0<\/strong>Theoretically, corrugated cardboard can be recycled but not when it’s soaked in oil or caked with cheese. Happy medium: Take the top portion of the box if it’s free from petroleum and recycle that with your cardboard. The bottom half will likely need to be trashed.\u00a0<\/li>\n
Plastic bags:\u00a0<\/strong>Your food is often delivered in plastic bags, but they aren’t recyclable and can cause harm to your local recycling facilities.\u202fTo dispose of plastic bags, return them to the store where you got them or reuse them. Better yet, don’t use them at all; instead, request a paper bag.<\/li>\n
Plastic utensils:\u00a0<\/strong>Not everything made from plastic is recyclable, and the recycling of plastic utensils typically depends on your local facility. Therefore, check with your service provider for details. Even better, when you place your order, let the restaurant know you don’t need plastic utensils.<\/li>\n
Soiled paper plates and napkins: <\/strong>These items are not recyclable\u202fwhen soiled with food and liquid, so look for reusable, biodegradable or authentic disposable products instead.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n
Chinese takeout containers mostly can’t be recycled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some cities, such as Austin, Texas, have\u00a0curbside composting\u00a0for food-soiled paper products. A program like this may not be available in your community but it doesn’t hurt to check. And\u00a0Block Bins, a shared-bin composting startup launched in Chicago, provides a similar service even if your town or city doesn’t.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Read more:<\/strong>\u00a0Microwave-Free Zone: Expert Hacks for Reheating Leftovers\u00a0<\/p>\n
5 takeout containers that can be recycled <\/h2>\n
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