How to Properly Dispose of Plastic Yogurt Containers
When it comes to recycling, we all make mistakes.
Sometimes we throw something in the wrong basket or are not sure which basket it belongs to and make an educated guess.
And if you have ever wondered if you are recycling these Chobani and Yoplait containers properly, I am here to admit that the answer to this dilemma also baffled me, given the unique plastic they are often made of. (And in a fog of confusion, I threw some containers in the trash and others in the bin.)
What is true when it comes to recycling plastic yogurt cups? Well, you’ll need some context: unlike plastic water bottles, most yogurt containers are actually made of polypropylene or # 5 plastic (a term that categorizes types of plastic. This category includes things like junk bottles. ketchup and common kitchen utensils.It is more durable than your regular plastic and can withstand higher temperatures.
The problem is that many roadside recycling programs no longer accept PP plastic because it has little recyclable value (and because of China’s recent ban on imports of our trash).
Foil lids are also difficult to recycle, as both the lid and container come into contact with food, which presents a problem for some recycling companies that cannot accept contaminated items.
Does this mean that yoghurt should be thrown into the trash bin? No, at least not yet. You may still be able to recycle the yoghurt containers, but that will take extra effort.
First, you need to figure out what kind of plastic your container is actually made of. The type of plastic can be identified by the number on the bottom. For example, Chobani, Fage and Yoplait containers are made from # 5 plastic (Chobani ” Flip ” yoghurts are made from # 6 plastic, which is also not accepted in most recycling programs).
If you have a # 5 or # 6 plastic container, you should consult your own curb recycling program by searching online for your program rules. In most cases, they will indicate what types of plastic they accept (if not, email them!).
Given the recent changes in recycling due to China’s ban, it’s important to find out if your curbside program has recently updated its rules. You can check Waste Dive for changes in local or national recycling programs. Luckily NYC still accepts # 5 plastic so I can safely recycle my Chobani containers as part of my curb (uv) program.
According to Tory Karl, waste reduction inspector in Greensboro, North Carolina, Greensboro’s local curbside program fortunately also accepts yogurt containers, but it makes an important caveat – you have to be careful when recycling anything less than a cup of yogurt, so you can you need to check with your program for these items.
“Smaller containers (like dressing cups) are too difficult to separate into plastic bins,” she said. “These little pieces of plastic end up in the glass pile along with a lot of small things that cannot be recycled: straws, tampon applicators, toys, forks, bottle caps and more.”
If your curb program does not accept plastic # 5, you can use the Recycle More Plastic card to find the nearest collection program, especially for PP plastic.
You can also leave your old yogurt containers at Whole Foods with the Preserve Gimme 5 program – you can find trash cans in a display case or in a coffee shop. You can even send them directly to Preserve using the address on their website (although you should reuse the old box to keep the process green).