Recycling is a great way to help the environment, but simple sorting sometimes isn’t enough. Certain items should be washed before recycling. A single dirty jar or milk jug can actually contaminate thousands of pounds of collected plastic, which is why recyclers will throw out unwashed items. Follow these basic guidelines and you’ll soon be an expert on rinsing recyclables.

Guide to Rinsing Recycling

Food Containers: Rinse

Canned goods, jars, bottles, and other items that contained food should be rinsed before they’re recycled. Any food remnants can cause contamination, turning your good deed into garbage. Go zero-waste by scraping any leftover scraps into a compost bin. You can even use bokashi, a special fermentation process, to compost meat and dairy.

Toiletry Bottles: Don’t Rinse 

Receptacles like shampoo bottles or laundry detergent that often have leftover soap scum don’t need to be rinsed. In fact, it may be better for your disposal service if you don’t. Some recycling centers use the soapy residue to clean the products they’re processing, so you’re saving them an extra step!

Metals: Rinse

In some states, rinsing recyclables is required, but people worry about wasting water nonetheless. It actually takes 3-10 times the amount of water to create new metals than it does to recycle, so rinse with a clear conscience. 

Hard To Open: Don’t Rinse

Items that are hard to open or have a very small mouth can be nearly impossible to rinse. Try to remove as much of the remaining contents as possible, then put the item into the recycling bin. If the residue is hard to get out, it’s unlikely to contaminate other recyclables.

If you’re unsure whether you should rinse or not, look for the How2Recycle label found on many packaged goods. It will usually have instructions on how best to handle the item. You can also use a recycling database to find out the rules in your zip code.

If you’re ready to live greener by reducing waste, contact Honolulu Disposal Service in Honolulu, HI. They are the biggest locally-owned trash service in the area and also have the largest recycling operation in the state. Their waste recovery specialists can design a program tailored to your disposal needs, including both scheduled and on-call pickup service. For more information on effective ways to handle your trash, visit them online or call (808) 845-7581 for a free estimate.