Maya Ellison
Clamshells are a common type of plastic packaging, often used for food products like spinach, strawberries, and cherry tomatoes. They are made from two identical plastic shells that fit around the product and hinge on one side. While clamshells are technically recyclable, they are not always recycled due to various challenges in the recycling process. For instance, clamshells are hard to differentiate from other similar containers made of different plastics, and they may contain labels or food residues that can contaminate other materials. Additionally, the bulk density of clamshells differs from that of PET bottles, making them challenging to process together. As a result, many recycling programs do not accept clamshells, and even facilities that do accept them prefer to have only a small number mixed in with bottles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Technically recyclable but not always recycled |
| Difficulty in recycling | Sorting, contamination, melting point, density, shape |
| Recycling contamination | Food waste, oils, labels, stickers, cardboard backing |
| Plastic type | PET, PETG, PVC, Polystyrene |
| Plastic grade | Different grades of PET due to distinct manufacturing processes |
| Plastic number | #1, #3, #7 |
| Consumer action | Rinse food residue, remove labels, check local recycling |
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What You'll Learn
Clamshells are hard to recycle due to their shape and density
Clamshells are a common form of plastic packaging, but they are notoriously difficult to recycle. While clamshells are made from Polyethylene-terephthalate (or PET, the most commonly recycled plastic in the world), which is technically recyclable, they are produced using a process called thermoforming, which results in a different grade of PET from that used in plastic bottles. This means that clamshells have a different density from PET bottles, making them challenging to process together.
Recycling facilities want to produce the purest bales of a given material to get the best market rate. In the case of plastic #1, those bales would include only bottles and jugs. The recycling facilities lose money by dealing with lesser-quality PET plastic when clamshells are mixed in with bottles and jugs. As a result, many recycling programs and facilities won't accept clamshells for recycling, even though they are made of recyclable PET plastic.
Clamshells are also hard to recycle due to their shape. When plastic clamshells are processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs), operators and sorting equipment struggle to differentiate clamshells from other similarly shaped containers made of different plastics. As a result, when the final PET bales are created to be shipped for processing, they are "contaminated" with the plastic clamshells.
In addition, clamshells are often used for food products, which can lead to contamination with food waste and oils, which can ruin an entire batch of recyclable material. They also often contain labels or stickers that can contaminate other materials, and they melt at a different temperature from other plastics, creating ash that can ruin a batch of good plastic. All of these factors make clamshells hard to recycle, despite being made from a material that is theoretically easy to recycle.
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Food waste and oils can contaminate clamshells
Plastic clamshells are a tricky material to recycle. They are often contaminated by food waste and oils, which can ruin an entire batch of otherwise recyclable material. This is a significant issue as clamshells are used throughout the restaurant industry for takeout containers and are a common type of packaging for food products in grocery stores.
Food waste and oils are not the only contaminants that can affect clamshells. Clamshells often contain labels or stickers that can contaminate other materials. They also melt at a different temperature than other plastics, creating ash that can ruin a whole batch of good plastic.
Clamshells are made of a plastic called Polyethylene-terephthalate, or PET for short. This is one of the most recyclable plastics. However, the process of making clamshells, called thermoforming, results in a different grade of PET to the process of making bottles and jugs, called blow moulding. This means that PET clamshells are less desirable for recycling facilities, which aim to produce the purest bales of a given material to get the best market rate.
When plastic clamshells are processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs), operators and sorting equipment struggle to differentiate the clamshells from other similarly shaped containers made of different plastics. This means that clamshells are often mixed in with PET bottles, resulting in a lower-quality product. Many recycling programs and MRFs won't accept clamshells for recycling, even though they are made of recyclable PET plastic.
If your local recycling program does not accept plastic clamshells, keep them out of your recycling bin. You can also try to avoid purchasing products with plastic clamshell packaging, and consider contacting the manufacturer to express your concerns.
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Clamshells are often not collected for recycling
Clamshells are a tricky material to recycle. They are often not collected for recycling, even though they are made of Polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is technically recyclable. PET has the recycling code #1 and is the most commonly recycled plastic globally. However, clamshells are an exception to this rule, with many curbside recycling services refusing to accept them.
There are several reasons why clamshells are not collected for recycling. Firstly, they are challenging to differentiate from other similarly-shaped containers made of different plastics, such as the more desirable PET bottles. Sorting equipment at material recovery facilities (MRFs) struggles to sort clamshells from other plastics, leading to "contamination" of the final PET bales. MRFs aim to produce the purest bales of a given material to fetch the best market rate. As a result, they may refuse to accept clamshells or sort them out, even though they are made of recyclable PET plastic.
Another issue is that clamshells and bottles are made through different manufacturing processes, resulting in different densities and grades of PET products. This makes it challenging to process them together, and recyclers need bottles and clamshells separated to recycle them properly. Most recyclers are set up to recycle bottles, not clamshells, so the presence of clamshells complicates the process and lowers the quality of the end product.
Furthermore, clamshells are commonly used in the restaurant industry for takeout containers, and they often contain labels or stickers that can contaminate other materials during the recycling process. Food residue, oil, and grease can also contaminate other materials, ruining an entire batch of good plastic. Therefore, it is essential to clean clamshells thoroughly before attempting to recycle them.
While clamshells can be recycled, the challenges outlined above mean that they are often not collected or accepted by recycling programs. However, some specialized companies, such as Ridwell, have partnered with sustainable plastics companies to recycle clamshells responsibly. Additionally, consumers can play a crucial role in increasing the chances of clamshell recycling by practicing proper disposal and recycling habits, such as removing labels and rinsing out food residue.
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Clamshells are made using a process called thermoforming
Clamshells are a common form of packaging, often used for food products like berries, eggs, spinach, and meat. They are lightweight yet durable, protecting fragile items in transit. However, despite being made from Polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is 100% recyclable, clamshells pose several recycling challenges.
Thermoforming allows for the creation of innovative designs, such as hinged and non-hinged containers, with customisable snap button locks for easy opening and closing. The design phase also includes considerations for embossing or "bumps" on the container.
Despite the recyclability of PET plastic, clamshells are often not accepted by recycling programs due to the challenges they pose. When processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs), clamshells are hard to differentiate from other similarly-shaped containers made of different plastics. As a result, the final PET bales may be "contaminated" with the wrong type of plastic, reducing their market value. Additionally, clamshells melt at a different temperature than other plastics, creating ash that can ruin an entire batch of recycled material.
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Consumers can influence businesses to switch to more sustainable packaging
Plastic clamshells are a tricky material to recycle. While clamshells are made of Polyethylene-terephthalate (or PET plastic), which is 100% recyclable, they are often not accepted by recycling programs. This is because clamshells are usually processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs) where operators and equipment have a hard time differentiating them from other containers made of different plastics. As a result, the final PET bales are "contaminated" with the plastic clamshells, which lowers their market value.
Despite ranking sustainability relatively low as a buying criterion, consumers can still influence businesses to switch to more sustainable packaging. Here are some ways consumers can make an impact:
- Consumer awareness and education: Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of packaging and are paying attention to the global climate crisis. They are also becoming more educated about how recycling works and how their products are packaged. This knowledge can lead to more informed purchasing decisions and encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
- Voting with their wallets: Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products and packaging. By choosing to buy from companies that use sustainable packaging, consumers can influence other businesses to follow suit to remain competitive.
- Providing feedback: Consumers can contact manufacturers or producers directly to express their concerns about the packaging of their products. They can also assure these companies that they will purchase their products again if they switch to more sustainable packaging.
- Adopting sustainable practices: Consumers can reduce their environmental impact by bringing their own reusable grocery bags, recycling paper and plastics, and buying second-hand products. These actions demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and can influence businesses to offer more eco-friendly options.
- Online searches and social media: There has been a significant rise in online searches for sustainable goods, indicating that consumers are actively seeking out eco-friendly options. Additionally, social media provides a platform for consumers to share their values and priorities, influencing businesses to align with these values to maintain a positive brand image.
By combining these strategies, consumers can send a strong signal to businesses about the importance of sustainable packaging and encourage them to make changes that benefit the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Clamshells are made from a type of plastic called Polyethylene-terephthalate, or PET for short, which is technically recyclable. However, many recycling programs do not accept them.
Clamshells are hard to recycle in practice because they are usually contaminated with food waste, oil, or sticky labels. They are also hard to differentiate from other similarly shaped containers made of different plastics.
You can use the Earth911 Recycling Search by entering your ZIP code to find a local recycling solution for clamshells. If there are no recycling solutions near you, you can avoid purchasing products with clamshell packaging, or contact the manufacturer to express your concerns.
There is a growing interest in biodegradable and compostable alternatives to clamshell packaging. Paper containers, for example, can be recycled or composted even if they are soiled with food residue.
PET stands for Polyethylene-terephthalate, which is the most commonly recycled plastic in the world.
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