Recycle
Recycling Update! You can Recycle ALL Plastics in Philadelphia!
Good news for Philadelphia!
You no longer have to worry about asking me what you can & can’t recycle checking those pesky numbers on your plastics containers – they’re ALL recyclable (which just started August 1st).
Here’s what you can recycle:
Recycle All Plastic Containers! (Courtesy from the Philly Streets Dept website)
You’ve been recycling plastic containers marked:
#1: Soda, water bottles
#2: Milk jugs, detergents, shampoo bottles
Now you can add:
#3: Rigid plastic containers and juice bottles
#4: Plastic tubs and lids from butter, margarine or similar products
#5: Yogurt containers and deli trays
#6: Plastic cups, plates and to-go containers
#7: Many mixed plastic containers and plastic products
What plastics you still can’t recycle:
- Styrofoam, plastic bags, PVC pipe, packing inserts or “peanuts.”
Remember to rinse your containers out & take off the caps!
Confused about what, when or how to recycle? Read more on the Streets Recycling Section.
I think this news makes me the happiest girl in Philadelphia.
Posted by Julie
Become a Supporter!
If you love what we do you can support our mission with a one-time or monthly contribution.
array(5) {
[0]=>
object(WP_Term)#7296 (10) {
["term_id"]=>
int(584)
["name"]=>
string(12) "Philadelphia"
["slug"]=>
string(12) "philadelphia"
["term_group"]=>
int(0)
["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
int(587)
["taxonomy"]=>
string(8) "post_tag"
["description"]=>
string(0) ""
["parent"]=>
int(0)
["count"]=>
int(183)
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
[1]=>
object(WP_Term)#7297 (10) {
["term_id"]=>
int(873)
["name"]=>
string(31) "Philadelphia Streets Department"
["slug"]=>
string(31) "philadelphia-streets-department"
["term_group"]=>
int(0)
["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
int(877)
["taxonomy"]=>
string(8) "post_tag"
["description"]=>
string(0) ""
["parent"]=>
int(0)
["count"]=>
int(39)
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
[2]=>
object(WP_Term)#7120 (10) {
["term_id"]=>
int(614)
["name"]=>
string(7) "plastic"
["slug"]=>
string(7) "plastic"
["term_group"]=>
int(0)
["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
int(617)
["taxonomy"]=>
string(8) "post_tag"
["description"]=>
string(0) ""
["parent"]=>
int(0)
["count"]=>
int(33)
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
[3]=>
object(WP_Term)#7121 (10) {
["term_id"]=>
int(617)
["name"]=>
string(12) "plastic bags"
["slug"]=>
string(12) "plastic-bags"
["term_group"]=>
int(0)
["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
int(620)
["taxonomy"]=>
string(8) "post_tag"
["description"]=>
string(0) ""
["parent"]=>
int(0)
["count"]=>
int(40)
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
[4]=>
object(WP_Term)#7294 (10) {
["term_id"]=>
int(3204)
["name"]=>
string(7) "Recycle"
["slug"]=>
string(7) "recycle"
["term_group"]=>
int(0)
["term_taxonomy_id"]=>
int(645)
["taxonomy"]=>
string(8) "post_tag"
["description"]=>
string(0) ""
["parent"]=>
int(0)
["count"]=>
int(119)
["filter"]=>
string(3) "raw"
}
}
Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake.
View all posts by Julie Hancher
this is awesome, jb! i just had a conversation about those pesky numbers last weekend! thank you for informing me.
great news!
Ok here are some stumpers for ya ladies. You said ‘remove the tops’. Why exactly? I called the sanitation dept. and they say leave em on. Or do you mean toss em? Cuz I also read that taking them off can clog the recycling machines. And are we talking only plastic caps? Now to confuse the matter some of those have recycle symbols! And what bout metal lids to say salsa jars? Trash? Yes it gets tricky. I may as well throw this into the mix. What to do you do with unmarked plastics? Aren’t all plastics #1-7?
nice info about recycle plastic.
today i don’t have to worry about plastic that i used and want to recycle it.
So what about UNMARKED plastics? Can I throw them in with the recyclables? I guess it won’t hurt to try huh? The people at the recycle center will just throw it out if it can’t be recycled…. (I’m guessing and hoping)
Hi Misha – It depends on what the product is. Most plastics are recyclable (most consumer products in plastic containers). But, some things (like CDs, plastic bags, straws, tootbrushes, etc are not.) Can you give us examples of what the unmarked plastics are?