Just 3 Recycling Symbol Numbers Are Allowed In Minnesota Recycle Bins

I don't know about you, but in my household when garbage day rolls around each week we always have to double-check one thing: Is it recycling week?

If it is, then I wheel out the recycling bin with the garbage can and hope a bear or birds don't make a mess in my driveway before the garbage man arrives (the bears have yet to bother me, the birds are another story).

However, another question we should be asking is just what kind of plastic can we actually put into the recycling bin? We all see the familiar recycling symbol with a number in the middle, but just what does that mean? It turns out it means a lot and it will tell you whether you can recycle it or not.

Why Recycling Plastic Is Important

Recycling plastic is important because according to a report published in the journal Science, an estimated 8.8 million tons of plastic packaging ends up in our oceans every year, a figure expected to increase exponentially in 2025.

Recycling can help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans, which helps alleviate environmental issues, such as pollution and habitat destruction.

There are a total of 7 recycling symbol numbers that are found on plastics, but only 3 can generally be placed into your home recycling bin, with minor exceptions.

Plastic Recycling Symbol Numbers Generally Allowed Inside Home Recycling Bins

Before you throw just any plastic item into your recycling bin in Minnesota, check its recycling symbol number and make sure it includes one of these.

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Please keep in mind that if the item is black or has ever held hazardous chemicals, it should NOT be placed into the recycling bin, even with one of these numbers.

According to Good Housekeeping, a #1 means it's PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate), which is the most common plastic for single-use bottled beverages because it's inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to recycle.

What this plastic is used for: Soft drinks, water, ketchup, and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing; vegetable oil containers

How to recycle it: Before placing it into a recycling bin, you should empty and rinse the container of any food. When it comes to caps, our environmental pros say it's probably better to dispose of them in the trash (since they're usually made of a different type of plastic). However, you should check with your city to see if they allow caps.

Recycling number 2 means it's HDPE (high-density polyethylene), which is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially when it comes to packaging.

What This Plastic Is Used For: Milk jugs; juice bottles; bleach, detergent, and other household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash bags and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners.

How To Recycle It: You'll want to double-check with your community to see if it prefers containers (like household cleaner bottles) to be recycled with or without lids. Also, keep in mind that the sprayers on spray bottles are unlikely to be recycled in most areas because they are often composed of multiple types of plastic and may contain other materials like metal springs. It's also important to note that items like grocery bags and plastic wrap are categorized as film plastics and they usually can't be recycled in a curbside bin.

Recycling number 5 means it's PP (polypropylene), which has a high melting point, so it's commonly chosen for containers that hold hot liquid.

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What This Plastic Is Used For: Some yogurt containers, syrup and medicine bottles, caps, and straws.

How To Recycle It: Before placing these plastics into your recycle bin, remember to make sure there's no food left inside. It's best to throw loose caps into the garbage since they easily slip through screens during recycling and end up as trash anyway.

If there is ever any question as to whether any item, plastic or not, can be thrown into your recycling bin, it's best to check for your community guidelines as there can be slight differences from city to city. Another handy resource can be found through the button above.

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