This story is available in Spanish.
Plastic take-out containers. Plastic bags. Frozen food boxes. None of these items go in your home recycling bin. But how do you know for sure?
Check the list at RecycleOrNot.org.
“We found that people are confused about what types of items are accepted for recycling in the greater Portland area," said Pam Peck, Metro resource conservation and recycling planning manager. "This is particularly true of plastic packaging, such as to-go containers, as well as items like disposable coffee cups that include a mix of paper and plastic.”
Developed using feedback from everyday recyclers, Recycle or Not focuses on some of the most common items that end up in recycling bins when they shouldn’t. It also provides a list of the most common household items that are recyclable at home – things like yogurt containers and plastic detergent bottles.
“We asked community members to look at our recycling information. They suggested a number of changes to help them recycle right, including keeping it simple and using color to provide key information at a glance,” said Peck. “You can see the community’s suggestions reflected on the Recycle or Not website and materials.”
The website is available in Spanish at ReciclarONo.org. Recyclers can also find out if an item is recyclable at home by submitting a photo to @recycleornot or @reciclarono on Instagram.