Plastics come in so many shapes and sizes, which can be confusing when you're trying to recycle. The best option is to refuse and reduce plastic use whenever possible, but how do you handle recycling plastics when it does come time to get rid of them? 

Recyclable types of plastic

In SLO County, all rigid plastics should be recycled in your blue bin. A rigid plastic is as opposed to a soft plastic. Rigid plastics include things like yogurt tubs, plastic bottles, takeout containers, etc.

Soft plastics cannot be recycled in your blue bin. Soft plastic are the kind that you can easily crinkle in your hand: things like plastic bags, films and wraps. Soft plastics get tangled on equipment at the recycling facility, posing a safety hazard for facility workers. If you are looking for a way to recycle these, they might be eligible for grocery store drop-off. Although the best solution for these items is to avoid soft plastics whenever possible, they are the most challenging type of plastic to recycle and a major polluter in our environments. 

The numbers on plastics are called the resin code, and identifies what type of plastic an item is made of. Unfortunately, the numbers don't help us determine a plastic's recyclability. For instance, black plastic takeout containers are often labeled with a #6, and these may be recycled, while Styrofoam is also considered a #6, which is not recyclable. Rigid plastic vs soft plastic is the more accurate (and easier!) determinant.

What sizes of plastic should I recycle?

We often get questions about the sizing of plastics as well!

Any items smaller than about 4 inches in diameter cannot be recycled. These items will fall through the cracks of the equipment at the sorting facility, and end up as trash.  We like to use the palm of your hand as a guide-- if the item is smaller than the palm of your hand, it shouldn't be recycled. Things that are too small to recycle include bottle caps, condiment containers, and plastic forks. Pro tip: Leave the cap ON your bottles and jars when recycling!

Any items bigger than 3x3 ft are generally too big to be recycled, and will become a blocker on the sorting line at the facility. This includes things like laundry baskets or plastic storage bins. The best option for these items is to find a way to reuse or donate them.

Questions about recycling a specific plastic item? Check out our recycling guide!