Alexei Volkov
Plastic storage bins are difficult to recycle and cannot be put in your curbside recycling bin. They are typically too large and your recycling program is likely more interested in plastic water bottles, tubs, and soap bottles. However, there are other ways to recycle or reuse them. Many county governments and private companies run recycling programs that accept plastic storage bins. In Oregon, you can refer to the Waste Wise tool to find out more about what can be recycled and where.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic storage bins | Cannot be recycled in a curbside recycling bin |
| Plastic bags | Cannot be recycled at the curb; can be returned to stores or dropped off at recycling centers |
| Plastic bottles and jars | Can be recycled if they have a threaded neck or are 6 ounces or larger |
| Plastic bottles that have contained hazardous materials | Cannot be recycled |
| Lids | Cannot be recycled; they are too small or too flat and end up contaminating the paper at paper mills |
| Plastic containers | Can be recycled if they are round, hold 6 ounces or more, and have a wider rim than base |
| Glass | Should be collected separately from other materials |
| Motor oil | Should be stored in a clear plastic jug (1-gallon max) with a tightly-closed lid and placed on the curb next to waste bins |
| Batteries | Should be taken to drop-off sites for safe disposal; cannot be recycled in the curbside bin |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic storage bins cannot be recycled in your curbside recycling bin
- You can use plastic storage bins to hold other recyclable materials
- Plastic bags can be recycled but not at the curb
- Plastic containers with a threaded neck can be recycled
- Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars of 6 ounces or larger can be recycled
Plastic storage bins cannot be recycled in your curbside recycling bin
In the meantime, you can reuse your plastic storage bins to hold recyclable materials that cannot be placed in your curbside recycling bin. For example, you can use a large plastic container with a lid to start a worm bin, which will not mold or break down over time like a wood bin. The Oregon State University Extension Service provides free instructions for building a worm bin from old plastic containers. You can also use a plastic storage bin to collect baby food pouches and other items that can be sent to TerraCycle.
It is important to note that plastic bags should not be placed in your curbside recycling bin, as they can clog the equipment at sorting facilities. Instead, take them back to stores or drop them off at recycling centers where they are collected separately from other plastics.
In terms of what can be recycled in your curbside bin, most recyclable materials can be mixed together in your bin, with glass collected separately. This includes paper, plastic, and metal. Plastic bottles and jars with a neck that are 6 ounces or larger can be recycled, as well as round plastic containers that are 6 ounces or more and have a wider rim than the base, such as salsa, margarine, or cottage cheese containers. Beverage bottles and jugs, shampoo, hand soap, and other personal care and cleaning product bottles are also accepted.
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You can use plastic storage bins to hold other recyclable materials
Plastic storage bins cannot be recycled in your curbside recycling bin. This is because large containers simply won't fit and kerbside recycling services are not set up to take these boxes. However, you can use plastic storage bins to hold other recyclable materials that can't fit in your kerbside bins. Once the storage bin is full, you can take it to your local recycling centre.
You can also use plastic storage bins to hold film plastic. When the bin fills up, take it to your local recycling centre. You can also use a smaller container to collect baby food pouches and other items that can be sent to TerraCycle.
If your plastic storage bins are still in good shape but you no longer have a use for them, you can take them to thrift stores, local charities, childcare centres, senior centres, and schools.
In the garage or shed, you can use plastic storage bins to store garden and woodwork supplies. If you have pets, they can be useful for leads and toys. You could even store muddy shoes in a container under the stairs. You could also keep one in the boot of your car for supplies if you go on day trips.
When sorting your plastics, ignore the recycle symbol and number. Plastics recycling in Oregon is based on the size and shape of the item.
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Plastic bags can be recycled but not at the curb
Plastic bags can be recycled but not through your regular curbside recycling program. Plastic bags are a serious problem for recycling facilities as they get caught in the machinery, causing costly shutdowns of sorting lines to cut the bags out of the equipment.
To recycle plastic bags, you can take them back to stores or drop them off at recycling centers, where they are collected separately from other plastics. Most major grocery retailers, such as Kroger, Safeway, Target, and Walmart, and many smaller retailers offer bag recycling collections in their stores. The bins are usually located near the front entrance. You can also use a Recycling Search tool to find a location near you by entering your ZIP code.
Before recycling plastic bags, ensure that they are empty and dry, and free of any food residue. Remove anything inside the bags, such as receipts, stickers, or crumbs, as these items will contaminate your bag load. Keep a bag collection bin in your house, such as a large garbage bag to collect all your plastic bags. Since plastic bags compact easily, you should be able to fit 50 to 100 bags in one garbage bag.
It is important to note that not all plastic bags are made from the same material. Most plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene (#2 plastic), while thinner-material bags, such as produce bags, are made from low-density polyethylene (#4 plastic). Make sure any bags you are recycling have a #2 or #4 plastic symbol on them. If not, you cannot be sure what plastic resin the bag is made from, so it is better to reuse it instead and then dispose of it appropriately when it can no longer be reused.
In addition to plastic bags, there are other plastic items that cannot be recycled through your regular curbside recycling program in Oregon. These include plastic trays from microwaveable meals, deli products, prepackaged meals, and snacks, as well as takeout containers, hinged containers, square snack containers, food containers with plastic pull-tabs, and bowls. Plastic lids are also too small or flat to be sorted out of recyclables and often end up contaminating paper at paper mills.
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Plastic containers with a threaded neck can be recycled
In Oregon, plastic bottles, jugs, and jars 6 ounces or larger, and any container with a threaded neck for a screw-on lid, can be recycled. This includes containers with a neck narrower than the base, such as milk jugs, peanut butter jars, and bottles that held personal care and cleaning products (shampoo, laundry soap, etc.). Round plastic containers that can hold 6 ounces or more and have a wider rim than the base are also recyclable. These typically contain products such as salsa, margarine, cottage cheese, or hummus.
It is important to note that recycling programs in Oregon may vary depending on the region. For example, in Portland, plastic bottles and jars with a neck of 6 ounces or larger are accepted for recycling, while in Eugene, certain plastic containers such as beverage bottles, jugs, shampoo bottles, and condiment jars are specified as acceptable for recycling.
Some plastic materials that cannot be recycled at home can be dropped off at recycling businesses in greater Portland. Additionally, plastic bags cannot be recycled at the curb due to the risk of contamination in the machinery, but they can be taken back to stores or dropped off at recycling centers.
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Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars of 6 ounces or larger can be recycled
It's important to note that the numbers and symbols on plastics are not indicative of whether they can be recycled in your home recycling bin. These are typically used by the industry to indicate the type of plastic, not its recyclability. Instead, focus on the size and shape of the item. Any containers with a threaded neck for a screw-on lid or a neck narrower than the base can be recycled.
Before placing items in your recycling bin, ensure they are empty, dry, and free of food residue. Rinsing containers is recommended, but they don't need to be perfectly clean. Keep in mind that lids are generally too small to be recycled and often end up contaminating paper at paper mills.
If you have plastic bags, do not put them in your curbside recycling bin as they can cause issues for recycling facilities by getting caught in the machinery. Instead, take them to stores or drop them off at recycling centers where they are collected separately. Additionally, plastic containers that do not conform to the accepted shapes, such as blister packaging or plastic wrap, should not be placed in your home recycling bin.
For more specific information on what can be recycled and where, refer to local resources such as Lane County's Waste Wise tool or the City of Portland's website, which provides detailed guidelines for recycling in the area.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic storage bins and totes are hard to recycle in Oregon. They cannot be put in your curbside recycling bin. You can look for alternative places to take plastic items for recycling, such as private companies that run recycling programs or county governments that accept plastic storage containers.
Plastic bottles, jars, round containers, buckets, and nursery pots can be recycled at home in Oregon. Beverage bottles and jugs, shampoo, hand soap, and other personal care and cleaning product bottles, condiment jars such as peanut butter, mayonnaise, etc. are also accepted.
Plastic bags cannot be recycled at curbside as they clog the equipment at sorting facilities. Plastic items with embedded batteries, such as cell phones, laptops, wireless headphones, and electric toothbrushes, should not be put in recycling bins.
