If you have leftover plastic food containers lying around your home, there are a few places you can donate them to. These places include TerraCycle, local recycling centers, and other drop-off locations. These options are the most environmentally friendly options available. They will help reduce the amount of trash in your local landfill.
TerraCycle
If you’re looking for a place to donate your plastic food containers, there’s a great site called TerraCycle. TerraCycle works with over a dozen brands in the United States to recycle plastic bottles and food containers. They operate Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in different countries and use various sorting technologies to separate recyclable material from the trash.
In 2011, TerraCycle donated more than $3 million to charities. In 2017, they won the United Nations’ Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activity Award. They also received the 2017 Green/Sustainable Business Achievement Award. And in 2019, they announced their new “Loop” system, which delivers your favorite brands in refillable packaging, which helps reduce waste in landfills.
Plastic food containers, glass bottles, contact lens packaging, disposable plastic cups, and other types of plastic can all be donated to TerraCycle for recycling. The company’s programs are free and offer multiple recycling options. Donating your plastic food containers is a great way to help the environment and support the nonprofits you care about.
TerraCycle also accepts non-recyclable materials like Swiffer pads, pens, baby food pouches, and laminated paper packaging. These materials are then used to make new products from recycled plastic. The company also accepts items like chewed gum and stuffed animals.
TerraCycle also accepts pet food empties and pet food containers. The company partners with pet food brands to take their recyclables and offers prepaid shipping labels and bags. In exchange for your donations, the company recycles empty pet food containers, which costs about $110 for a small box.
If you’re looking for a place to donate plastic food containers, the Rubbermaid Food Storage Recycling Program and TerraCycle both accept all brands of plastic food containers. The programs offer free shipping within the United States and Canada. To donate plastic food containers to either program, you must sign up for a free account on TerraCycle. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive a prepaid shipping label. Please attach it to the box containing the plastic waste.
There’s an Earth911 website and database where you can find your local recycling centers. You can also try to recycle the containers by using them creatively. For example, you can reuse them to organize a junk drawer, store craft supplies, or replace a broken board game box.
Other drop-off points
Plastic food containers can be recycled at a variety of drop-off locations. Most communities in the US have recycling programs. You can search on the Plastic Film Recycling website to find drop-off locations near you. The website lists phone numbers and distances and will tell you what plastic each drop-off facility accepts. More extensive recycling facilities often accept all plastics, including plastic containers. Some more minor drop-off points, however, may only accept certain types.
Some communities even have drop-off locations for plastic foam, which can be recycled in various ways. This material can be made into products like crown molding or picture frames. It is not recyclable curbside, but some communities accept it for recycling. You can also recycle plastic bags, which are widely used for food items such as sandwiches, cereal box liners, and bread. Many grocery stores offer free programs that will accept plastic bags for recycling. Unlike film, however, plastic bags cannot be recycled at curbside drop-off locations.
Your local recycling center
You can donate your used plastic food containers to a local charity or recycling center. Most of these organizations are happy to accept the containers you no longer use. You can donate them to local childcare centers, schools, and senior homes. In addition, you can look for material exchanges online.
Some plastic food containers cannot be recycled. Some are coated with sealants that make them difficult to recycle. Plastic clamshell containers with a recycling symbol or the label “No. 1 or No. 2” can be recycled. Aluminum containers are also recyclable if they’re clean and free of oil.
In addition to plastic food containers, many grocery stores also accept plastic bags and wraps. Some stores even accept Styrofoam, which can be recycled in a single-stream bin. If you don’t want to recycle food packaging, you can recycle non-food boxes with paper and cardboard.
You can also donate shredded paper for recycling. It has less fiber than regular paper, but it’s still a great packing material. Alternatively, you can take your old phone books and flattened cardboard to a recycling center. Some cell phone providers also have trade-in services. Cell phones can also be donated to organizations such as Cell Phones for Soldiers and CTIA.
There are many benefits to recycling. It keeps millions of tons of materials out of landfills, preserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces air, water, and greenhouse gas emissions. Your local recycling provider can help you find the best place for your items.
You can also donate toys, clothing, and books. Donate used toys, blankets, and books to organizations that will use them for emergency supplies. You can also donate toys, baby blankets, and books to other charities. And remember to recycle plastic food containers.
Many organizations will recycle your used plastic food containers. Ask your local recycling center about its policies regarding collecting and recycling these materials. The cost of a donation to a nonprofit is less than you would pay for the service. Consider donating your plastic food containers to a nonprofit organization if you can’t recycle them yourself. It’s easy to do your part and make a difference for the environment.
