Plastic utensils are not recyclable. If you’re considering buying any “disposable” with the intention of recycling it, it’s better to choose a reusable or compostable alternative. It’s time to move on from plastic utensils, plates, cups, and bowls — and in some nations, provinces, and states, single use plastics are being phased out through new bans on selling them.
But let’s assume for a minute that you have plastic utensils from take-out restaurants, office lunch parties or numerous other scenarios and want to keep them out of landfills. In theory, these utensils should be recyclable, but several issues likely prevent your local program from accepting them.
1. Inconsistent Materials
In a perfect world, all plastic utensils would be made from the same plastic resin, but that’s simply not the case. The majority of plastic utensils are made of polystyrene (#6 plastic),…