Plastic Clamshell Containers Recyclable

That s because the way clamshells are molded affects the structure of the plastic making them more difficult to recycle.

Plastic clamshell containers recyclable. Clamshells are usually made out of pet plastic so they are highly recyclable says alexander. Because pet is strong lightweight and easily molded it is a popular material for packaging a wide range of foods and consumer goods. If you must collect your recycling in a plastic bag use a clear or see through blue bag. Those items need to go into the trash unless your recycling program specifically gives the green light.

Milk jugs toiletry bottles laundry detergent bottles. Empty liquids and food from recyclable containers before recycling them. The plastic in clamshells is different than the plastic that is in recyclable bottles and jugs even though they may all have a 1 recycling symbol on them. There is big demand for recycled pet polyethylene terephthalate content in new clamshells.

Plastic bottles containing liquid get sent to the glass. Bottles are mechanically sorted from other materials by density. You might notice that clamshells and many other plastic containers come with a number inside a triangle of arrows. Curbside recycling centers.

The type of plastic used to make clamshells melts at a different temperature and if it ends up mixed in with other types of plastic it can ruin a whole batch of recycled plastic. Give all recyclable bottles and containers a quick rinse before recycling. Those containers are made of polyethylene terephthalate pet also known as polyester. According to the national association for pet container resources or napcor single layer thermoplastic pet clamshells could indeed theoretically at least be recycled along with the pet soda.

While these clamshells can be seen in single stream recycling bins all the time they must be heated at a different temperature and like the other plastic resins they must be recycled separately. Unfortunately plastic clamshell containers are not accepted in franklin county s curbside or drop off recycling programs. Keep aluminum foil plastic utensils styrofoam containers plastic wrap or plastic wrappers including baggies and bags out of the recycling bin. Air pillows shopping bags newspaper sleeves.

Placing a liquid filled plastic bottle in your recycling will prevent it from being recycled. Food left in containers contaminates other recyclables. Pet is one of the most recyclable plastics. Soft drinks water juice plastic clamshells peanut butter mayonnaise jars.

Curbside recycling centers.