Plastic Takeaway Food Containers
Recyclable?
Blue Bins & Chutes
Other Recycling
Recommended
Trash
If it is dirty, just throw it in the trash. If it is clean, re-use it!
Yes this type of plastic is allowed in the blue bins.
BUT..
While this #5 plastic is technically recyclable, the chance of it getting recycled is very low (compared to #1 and #2 plastic) and it may not be worth the soap and water needed to clean it.
Alternative
Specialised Recycling
Polypropylene is accepted by The Plastic Project.
They have limited capacity and from time to time stop taking donations so double check with them.
The Plastic Project (closed)
Alternative
Recycling Bins & Chutes
Only put this plastic in the recycling bin IF IT IS CLEAN.
OMG why do people put dirty food containers in blue bins?!
Sigh. We know it's not you but… arghhh.
Blue Bins
Info & Insights
Disposable food containers are usually made of #5 plastic (Polypropylene aka PP) which is relatively hard and heat resistant making it suitable for food. It really has great properties.
But sadly, only about 1% of PP is recycled globally because there is very low demand for this kind of post-consumer plastic in the 2nd hand market.
Added to that, these containers are often the source of food contamination in the recycling system because they are difficult to clean when oily.
For all these reasons, above we recommend putting such containers in the trash instead of using up soap and water to clean them for the recycling bin.
