Zero Waste Clarke+

Plastic take-out container

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Many restaurants are using black plastic take-out containers and you are correct: these are NOT recyclable. The optical sorters at recycling facilities can’t “see” black plastic containers on the black conveyor belts. Even if it’s sorted properly, black plastic is tricky because it cannot be dyed other colors when making new products, limiting its recycling potential. That said, all other color plastic take-out containers –  clear, white, green, purple, orange, rainbow – ARE recyclable.

Plasticware

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Utensils are one of the most mismanaged plastic items in use for a couple reasons: shape and composition. Like straws, plastic utensils have a unique shape that makes it hard for recycling facilities to sort. They are difficult to remove by hand amid other materials and often end up mixed with paper loads or on the floor of the recycling facility. 

Starbucks Cup

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Hot coffee cups are not recyclable in most areas because each paper cup has a plastic lining attached to the inside of the cup. (Otherwise, there would be a lot more hot coffee cases from leaking cups!) The plastic layer must be separated from the cup in order for it to be recycled. However, many recycling plants find this extra step too time-consuming and costly to be worthwhile.

Starbucks Sleeve

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Coffee cup sleeves are made from paper and are recyclable

Nitrile Gloves

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Nitrile Gloves can only be recycled if not contaminated, but the majority of gloves are disposed of after use-- which would consider them contaminated materials.

Tea Bags

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Not only can you compost tea bags as fertilizer in the compost bin, but loose leaf teas and compostable tea bags may be dug in around plants.

Pizza box

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

If the box is greasy, cheesy and has stuck on food bits, it shouldn’t go in the recycling bin. The box is no longer recyclable, but even worse, that grease can contaminate the other objects in the recycling bin and make it all unusable.

Coffee Pods

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Thankfully, many coffee pods are recyclable in the traditional sense, meaning they can be recycled in the same manner as other plastics and metals. Make sure you dump out the coffee and rinse it before adding to your recycling bin.

Nut Cans

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Because they are made of mixed materials (cardboard and metal foil), these cans cannot be recycled. Toss them in the garbage.

Piece of paper towel

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

You can compost dirty paper towels that you used to clean up messes of organic materials like food, mud, and even things as gross as vomit.