How can you tell a plastic item is a #1, #2, or #5?
Most plastic containers have a recycling triangle on the bottom or base with a number that will tell you what type of plastic it is.
Yes/ No Tips
How much grease can be on pizza boxes?
Remove parchment paper, plastic risers, and leftover pizza before recycling pizza boxes. Total grease must be less than a silver dollar in size for the entire box. If the base of the pizza box is grease-stained but the lid is clean, recyclers can tear the two pieces apart to recycle the lid and discard the box bottom.
Is it all iced coffee cups or just Starbucks that can’t be recycled?
Empty, clean, and dry #5 plastic cups are technically recyclable, but Republic Services does not accept them because they are almost always “recycled” with lids, straws, and melted ice inside. Those with residue whipped cream, caramel, chocolate sauce, etc., contaminate other recyclables in the load when they are compacted in the truck. Recycling center optical sorters identify plastic cups with residue as trash, which increases the contamination per ton and drives up recycling costs.
Do you need to remove the outer cover on, for example, yogurt cups before recycling?
Yes, metal coverings/lids will need to be removed from plastic tubs before recycling. Threaded lids must be screwed onto the container in order for the lid to be recycled. Plastic lids larger than 2” in diameter can make it through the recycling process without being attached to a container. If the #5 plastic food tub has a similar plastic lid or cap, you can leave that on. We encourage caps and lids to stay on the food tubs. This way, the lid or cap will get recycled. Leaving the caps and lids loose in the co-mingled recycling will not get the caps and lids recycled. They tend to be too small to make it through the sorting process at the Material Recovery Facility to get recycled. The lids on yogurt cups that look like aluminum foil, unfortunately, need to be thrown away. The material is not just pure aluminum. It contains other materials to perform its function of keeping the food in the container fresh and contained.
Can all types of cardboard be recycled? What about freezer safe, frozen meal cardboard?
Cardboard boxes that were meant to be put in a refrigerator or freezer, such as butter boxes or frozen meal boxes, can not be recycled. These type of boxes are not just made of paper fiber. They have other materials in them to help prevent absorbing moisture while simultaneously help maintain their form, fit, and function in refrigerated and frozen environments.
Can you recycle cardboard with tape or shipping labels on them?
Yes, you can recycle cardboard with tape or shipping labels. These types of materials are of lower concern in the cardboard material mix. However, if you are inclined to remove labels and tape, that would help improve the integrity of the cardboard recycling process.
What about small #5 plastic (clear or black) “trays” that originally contained frozen foods or non-perishable foods? Can they be recycled?
Yes, these would be considered #5 plastic food tubs. They can be recycled.
Who do I contact if I need a new recycling bin or if my recycling wasn’t picked up?
Please email svcreqs@boisestate.edu or call (208) 426-1409 with your request.