What can be recycled as you entertain?

Recycle these with “numbered” plastics (there’s a # within the chasing arrows):
Plastic water bottles (please use a pitcher of water and make your party BYOB)
Condiment bottles/jars
Plastic cups & plates-clear or colored as long as they have a # in the chasing arrows

Any plastic without a # in the triangle has to be re-used or thrown out and unfortunately so do all those plastic forks and spoons. Party wisely my friends. Is it that hard to wash a sink full of silverware? Just load the sink with soapy water and dump them in as they’re used. They’ll practically was themselves.

Note: Each center has it’s specifications for recycling numbered plastics. I can take my food grade plastics 1-7 to the recycling center but have to take any non-food plastic to the bin in the Whole Foods parking lot for recycling. No big deal, I go there anyway.

Recycle with plastic bags:
Plastic grocery bags (please start taking your own though)
Plastic food wrap
Plastic food/snack bags-don’t worry if they’re wet inside, just zip them up and put them in the bin

Recycle the following with chip board:
Paper plates WITHOUT coating
Light cardboard such as cereal/cracker boxes
Butcher paper
Newspapers
Paper shopping bags
Paper towel and bathroom tissue rolls

With Glass:
Wine and beer bottles (and I KNOW you’re gonna have some of those)
Pickle/olive/sauce jars (metal lids recycled with small metals)

Metal:
Metal lids from jars
Food cans from tuna, veggies, fruit…

Aluminum (this is different than the metal lids from bottles/jars)
Aluminum drinking cans, beer cans
Aluminum foil and aluminum foil pie shell tins! Yes, used. Just wad up the foil so the food doesn’t make a mess and toss it in the bin.
Move your bins to the entertaining area and label each with a quick sign so your guests know what to put where. It won’t be that hard and you might be surprised at how many people welcome the opportunity. If the idea of recycling all of the above is daunting, fine, just recycle what you’ll use the most of. Drinking containers of any kind are about the easiest and most basic of recycling so why don’t you just start there.

If you don’t have curbside service, check out Earth911 or RecyclingCenters.org for a center in your zip code. An Easy Go Green!

Enjoy your festivities and please celebrate responsibly!