Everything you need to know about recycling plastic in the US — resin codes, curbside rules, and how to do it right
Note
This guide provides general recycling information based on common US municipal standards. Recycling rules vary by location, so please check with your local waste management authority for specific guidelines in your area.
Not all plastics are created equal. The resin identification code (the number inside the chasing arrows triangle on the bottom of containers) tells you what type of plastic it is and whether it is likely accepted in your curbside recycling program. Most US municipalities accept #1 PET and #2 HDPE; acceptance of other codes varies widely.
| Resin Code | Material | Common Products | Curbside Accepted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | PET / PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate) | Water bottles, soda bottles, peanut butter jars, salad dressing containers | Yes — widely accepted |
| #2 | HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) | Milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, juice containers | Yes — widely accepted |
| #3 | PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) | Pipes, window frames, some cling wrap, blister packaging | No — rarely accepted |
| #4 | LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) | Grocery bags, bread bags, squeezable bottles, dry cleaning bags | Limited — store drop-off only |
| #5 | PP (Polypropylene) | Yogurt cups, medicine bottles, bottle caps, takeout containers | Yes — increasingly accepted |
| #6 | PS (Polystyrene) | Styrofoam cups, egg cartons, takeout clamshells, packing peanuts | No — rarely accepted |
| #7 | Other (Polycarbonate, ABS, Nylon, etc.) | Baby bottles, sunglasses, electronics housings, mixed-material items | No — not recyclable curbside |
Follow these steps to make sure your plastic actually gets recycled instead of ending up in a landfill. The key is empty, clean, and dry.
Remove all food, liquid, or product residue. Squeeze out remaining lotion, soap, or condiments. The container does not need to be spotless, but it should be mostly empty.
Rinse with water to remove food residue. A quick swirl is enough — you do not need to scrub it clean with soap. If a container is too greasy to clean easily, toss it in the trash instead.
Flip the container over and look for the number inside the recycling triangle. If your local program accepts that number, it goes in the blue bin. When in doubt, check your hauler's website.
Most US recycling programs now ask you to leave caps ON the bottle. Loose caps are too small to be sorted and fall through screens at the facility. Screw the cap back on after rinsing.
Flatten bottles and jugs to save space in your bin and in the collection truck. This is optional but helpful. If your program asks you to leave caps on, crush the bottle first, then replace the cap.
Put accepted plastics loose in your curbside blue bin. Do NOT bag your recyclables — plastic bags jam sorting equipment. Keep items loose and unbagged.
Q. Can I recycle plastic clamshell containers (like berry containers)?
A. It depends on the resin code and your local program. Many #1 PET clamshells are now accepted, but #6 PS clamshells are not. Check the number on the bottom.
Q. Should I remove labels from plastic bottles?
A. No. Paper and plastic labels are removed during the recycling process. Do not worry about peeling them off.
Q. Can I recycle plastic cups from coffee shops?
A. Clear plastic cups (usually #1 PET) can be recycled if rinsed. Foam cups (#6 PS) cannot. Paper-lined "plastic" cups are generally not recyclable curbside.
Q. What about compostable or biodegradable plastics?
A. These do NOT belong in the recycling bin. They contaminate conventional plastic recycling. If your area has a commercial composting facility that accepts them, use that. Otherwise, they go in the trash.
Reality: According to EPA data and multiple studies, only about 5–6% of plastic waste in the US is actually recycled. The rest goes to landfills, is incinerated, or is exported. The recycling symbol on a product does not guarantee it will be recycled — it only indicates the resin type.
Reality: The chasing arrows triangle with a number is a resin identification code, not a promise of recyclability. It was created by the plastics industry in 1988. Only #1 and #2 are widely accepted in curbside programs. The triangle on #3–#7 plastics misleads many consumers into thinking those items are recyclable.
Reality: A quick rinse is sufficient. You do not need to use soap or run them through the dishwasher. The recycling facility washes materials during processing. However, containers with heavy grease or food residue (like a peanut butter jar you cannot rinse out) should go in the trash.
Reality: This "wishcycling" mentality is one of the biggest problems in US recycling. Contamination from non-recyclable items can cause an entire truckload of recyclables to be sent to the landfill. When in doubt, throw it in the trash. One contaminated item can ruin a batch of otherwise recyclable material.
Reality: Most biodegradable plastics only break down in industrial composting facilities at high temperatures (140°F+). In a landfill, they behave just like regular plastic. Worse, if mixed into the recycling stream, they contaminate batches of conventional recyclable plastic, making the whole batch unusable.
Reality: The US generates about 40 million tons of plastic waste per year. Even with dramatic improvements in recycling infrastructure, recycling cannot keep up with production. Reducing plastic use at the source — refusing unnecessary packaging, choosing reusable products — is far more impactful than recycling after the fact.
PET bottles are shredded and spun into polyester fiber used in clothing, fleece jackets, carpets, and insulation.
Bottle-to-bottle recycling turns old PET bottles into new food-grade containers, closing the loop.
HDPE is recycled into durable plastic lumber used for park benches, picnic tables, playground equipment, and decking.
Recycled plastic pellets become raw material for auto parts, containers, pipes, and packaging film.
It takes about 10 recycled PET bottles to make enough fiber for one T-shirt.
25 recycled PET bottles = 1 fleece jacket.
5 recycled PET bottles = enough fiberfill for one ski jacket.
1,050 recycled milk jugs = one 6-foot plastic lumber bench.
Recycling is important, but reducing the amount of plastic we use has a far greater environmental impact. The most effective strategy follows the hierarchy: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, then Recycle.
If every American household replaced just 10 single-use plastic items per week with reusable alternatives, we could eliminate over 170 billion pieces of plastic waste per year. Start with one swap this week — a reusable bottle, a cloth bag, or a metal straw — and build from there.