How to recycle/dispose of plastic bottles, containers, tubs and lids

Curbside collection: Weekly - recycling
County facilities accepting plastic bottles, containers, tubs and lids:
Shady Grove Processing Facility & Transfer Station

We accept for recycling

See photo examples of plastics we accept
Learn more about plastics and resin codes - US EPA website

Effective June 28, 2012, we now accept #1 PET thermoform plastics.

Download our plastics postcard (PDF, 1.1 MB) for handy reference.
Watch our 30-second plastics ad on YouTube
Listen to our 30-second plastics radio ad - radio ad script

We accept these plastic item types	Resin numbers	Examples
bottles	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7	Plastic bottles that contained food, drink and household products, medicine and vitamin bottles
containers, tubs and lids pails and buckets	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (except items marked biodegradable or compostable)	mayonnaise, peanut butter, yogurt, cream cheese and butter containers; deli and ice cream tubs; yogurt cups; medicine vials; detergent, pet food and kitty litter containers; #1 PET thermoform plastics including: clamshell containers, bakery trays and cake domes, deli containers and trays, fruit and vegetable containers and baskets, cups, tubs and lids
Tupperware™ or Rubbermaid™ -type durable plastic containers and lids
nursery and flower pots	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7	all colors of rigid pots accepted
beverage (stadium) cups		fast food fountain drink cups

Some plastic recycling tips

Labels and plastic rings around the neck of the bottles are okay.
Please empty and rinse all containers, removing the tops and lids, before placing these materials in your blue bin.
Place plastic bottles, containers, tubs and lids in your blue recycling bin with other commingled materials for curbside recycling collection.

We cannot accept for recycling

Any biodegradable or compostable plastic items
Any plastic bottle or container that held automotive products or hazardous materials, such as
- motor oil, antifreeze and pesticides
Plastic wrap, bags, or film
Plastic hangers
non-bottle items made from any type of #6 plastic (polystyrene and Styrofoam™ products), such as

plastic knives, forks, and spoons, plastic egg cartons, polystyrene “clamshell” containers, packaging from small electronics and toys, jewel cases from CDs
flexible plastic trays and individual containers for plants and seedlings, including 4-pack and 6-pack plant containers

Any container holding syringes or other sharps. Also, never place syringes or other sharps directly in the blue bin.

What about the lids?

Effective July 1, 2008, we accept plastic lids and caps in our curbside recycling program. Please take the caps and lids off of bottles and containers first before putting the plastic caps and lids into your recycling bin.

"How to recycle/dispose of..." Index

This information last updated 1/30/2013.

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Last edited: 11/8/2010