Recycling Rules on Crushed Plastic in Washington

Rinse it Out

• The first rule for recycling crushed plastic in Washington State is to rinse and clean the plastic before you recycle it. Without this step, the plastic is not a good recyclable material, and batches of plastic at the recycling center can be rendered unusable due to the presence of non-plastic particulate matter. While there are some differences in rules of plastic recycling in Washington, each facility wants you to rinse it out.

The Numbers on the Bottom of the Plastic Container

• Almost any plastic that can be crushed (versus a plastic bag) will have a number on it. Some places in Washington State, such as Spokane, only let you recycle numbers one and two at curbside pick-up. Other regions, such as Seattle, don't care about the numbers but instead have a list of what can and can't be recycled. These objects are listed and printed on the outside of curbside recycling containers across the city.

Flatten It

• For all plastic recycling that is not soft, such as plastic bags, flattening the plastic is a good practice. It allows for more items to be placed in the curbside recycling bin, and the more you recycle, the less goes into the landfill. Plastics take a long time to biodegrade, and are therefore crucial to recycle. Most major cities in Washington State provide curbside recycling as a weekly or bi-weekly service along with the garbage pick-up.

What To Do With Lids

• Lids are a tricky area for crushed plastic recycling in Washington. Even if they are made of the same material as the container, they are not always recyclable. The rule of thumb is that if the lid is smaller than the girth of the container, it is not recyclable. So, a lid for a plastic soda bottle is not recyclable, but a coffee cup lid or a yogurt lid is.