Omar Khalid
Austin has a robust recycling system in place, and the city joined the U.S. Plastics Pact in 2020, aiming to end plastic waste. The city accepts a wide range of plastics for recycling, including hard plastics and soft plastics. Hard plastics, such as microwave meal trays, mushroom containers, and packaging trays, can be placed in blue recycling carts, while soft plastics like plastic bags and films should be taken to a store drop-off station. The city accepts plastics with recycling numbers #1 through #7, although there is some confusion about plastic #6. It's important to note that certain items, like plastic bottles with motor oil or pesticides, cannot be recycled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Numbers Accepted | 1-7 |
| Plastic Numbers Not Accepted | N/A |
| Plastic Types Accepted | Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) |
| Plastic Types Not Accepted | Plastic bags, Plastic films, Plastic straws, Plastic silverware |
| Plastic Items Accepted | Plastic bottles, Plastic cups, Plastic yogurt tubs, Plastic takeout containers, Plastic disposable plates, Plastic utensils |
| Plastic Items Not Accepted | Plastic bottles with motor oil, Plastic bottles with pesticides, Plastic bottles with herbicides, Plastic bottles with adhesives, Plastic bottles with paints, Plastic bottles with solvents, Plastic styrofoam |
| Other Accepted Items | Mixed paper, Metal, Glass |
| Other Not Accepted Items | Wet, soiled or food-stained paper, Broken glass |
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What You'll Learn
Austin accepts plastics numbered #1 to #7
The City of Austin has joined the U.S. Plastics Pact, which aims to end plastic waste in the country. As part of this initiative, Austin has committed to eliminating problematic and unnecessary materials, reducing the use of virgin plastic, and designing 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable plastic packaging.
However, it's important to note that not all plastics are widely recycled, and there may be specific guidelines for certain types of plastics. For example, plastic #6 yogurt tubs may not be commonly recycled, but Austin accepts them in the blue recycling bins.
Austin also accepts all colors of hard/rigid plastic, including black plastic items like microwave meal trays and packaging trays. These can be placed directly into the blue recycling carts provided by Austin Resource Recovery for curbside collection.
To clarify specific recycling guidelines or for information on recycling unusual items, residents can contact Austin Resource Recovery by calling 3-1-1 or sending an email.
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Plastic bags and films are recycled at drop-off stations
The City of Austin accepts a wide range of plastics for recycling. The city sorts recyclables by type of material rather than by resin identification code, meaning that Austin accepts all numbers of hard/rigid plastics. These can be placed in blue recycling carts for curbside collection.
However, soft plastics such as plastic bags and films are not accepted in the blue recycling carts and must be recycled at a store drop-off station. Many grocery stores, including HEB, Central Market, Randalls, Whole Foods, and Wal-Mart, have drop-off stations at the front of the store. It is important to ensure that food bags are turned inside out and free of stickers and food residue before recycling.
In addition to plastic bags and films, Austin also collects plastic film and foam from warehouse operations. The city's Resource Recovery trucks collect recycling from over 200,000 homes and transport it to a local Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for processing and sorting.
Austin has committed to reducing plastic waste and has joined the U.S. Plastics Pact, aiming to eliminate problematic and unnecessary materials, reduce the use of virgin plastic, and increase the recyclability and compostability of plastic packaging.
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Plastic water bottles are recycled into other beverage bottles
In Austin, Texas, plastic bottles with recycling numbers #1—#7 are accepted for recycling. This includes Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) or #1 plastic, which is used to make water bottles.
The process of bottle-to-bottle recycling requires more energy and financial resources to clean the material sufficiently to meet quality and safety specifications for food and beverage containers. This makes it more expensive, and as a result, the average recycled content of PET bottles is generally low. For example, in Canada in 2015, the average recycled content of PET bottles was only 19%. Worldwide, bottles contain even less recycled content on average, with major beverage companies such as Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi averaging less than 12% recycled content in their beverage bottles.
Despite the challenges of bottle-to-bottle recycling, some companies have committed to using 100% recycled PET for their bottled water products. For instance, Resource Natural Spring Water offers 100% rPET recycled water bottles nationwide. By increasing the demand for recycled plastic bottles, these companies are closing the loop on recycling and encouraging sustainable practices in the industry.
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Black plastic is accepted in Austin
The City of Austin has implemented a robust recycling system, prioritizing sustainability and waste reduction. As part of this initiative, Austin accepts various forms of plastic for recycling, including black plastic.
Black plastic is accepted for recycling in Austin, specifically the hard or rigid type. This includes items like microwave meal trays, mushroom containers, and packaging trays. Black plastic is often misidentified as non-recyclable due to its dark colour, but Austin's recycling program welcomes it.
Austin's recycling program is known for its inclusivity, accepting a wide range of plastics. The city sorts recyclables by type of material rather than by resin identification codes. This means that Austin accepts plastics with recycling numbers #1 through #7, except for plastic bags, films, and small items like straws and silverware, which are recycled at store drop-off stations.
It's important to note that certain plastics, such as plastic bottles containing motor oil, pesticides, herbicides, adhesives, paints, or solvents, are not accepted in the recycling program. Additionally, while Austin accepts black plastic, any black plastic mail-order bags should be recycled at a store drop-off centre.
The city provides convenient curbside collection of recycling for single-family households up to four-plexes. Residents are instructed to place their mixed recyclables, including hard plastics, metal, glass, and mixed paper, directly into their blue recycling carts without the need for prior sorting. This streamlined process makes it easier for Austinites to participate in recycling and contribute to the city's environmental efforts.
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Plastic yogurt tubs are recycled
In Austin, Texas, the city provides curbside collection of recycling for single-family households up to four-plexes. The accepted plastics for recycling are #1 through #7, with specific instructions to exclude plastic bags and motor oil, pesticides, herbicides, adhesives, paints, or solvents containers. It is important to check with local guidelines, as they may vary.
If your local recycling program doesn't accept #5 plastic yogurt tubs, there are still ways to ensure they are recycled. You can use online resources like Recycle More Plastic's map to find nearby collection programs that specifically accept polypropylene plastic. Some retailers, such as Whole Foods, also offer collection bins for yogurt containers through programs like Preserve's Gimme 5. Additionally, you can mail these containers to specialized recycling companies, ensuring you reuse packaging to keep the process environmentally friendly.
It's worth noting that yogurt containers can also be reused in various ways around the home, such as for storage or organizing. However, it's important to avoid using them for food storage if they are not food-safe. By recycling or reusing yogurt tubs, we can reduce the need to divert petroleum resources and prevent toxic chemical emissions from incineration.
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Frequently asked questions
Austin accepts all colours and numbers of hard/rigid plastic. This includes microwave meal trays, mushroom containers, and packaging trays.
Plastic bags and plastic films can be recycled at a store drop-off station.
Austin recycles plastic water bottles, detergent containers, drainage pipes, oil bottles, recycling bins, benches, pens, doghouses, vitamin bottles, floor tiles, and picnic tables.
