Cleaning Recyclable Products

What happens if you don't wash food jars or plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles before recycling? Does it affect the recycling process if they're not washed out or if the labels are left on?

Most recycling facilities will say that bottles and jars need to be cleaned. However, while clean containers will reduce the mess at sorting facilities and decrease the weight to transport recycling-bound materials, it's not necessary to clean them first. Items that reach a recycling plant, such as plastic and glass, are sorted and cleaned before being melted down, which will remove any labels or glue.

Source: RenÃ©e Loux, Author, Easy Green Living (Rodale, 2008)

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