#5 Plastic

The yogurt tub. The takeout container. The lid, if it’s #5 too.

Give rigid plastics clearly marked #5 or PP a place in your recycling with ReCollective.

Examples of rigid polypropylene tubs, cups and containers; check each piece for #5 or PP

Recycle #5 with ReCollective What can I include?How to prepare it Download the visual guide (PDF)

For doorstep members

Add a green #5 bag to your pickup.

$5 each, or 5 for $20

Approximately 13 gallons. Order in the Member Dashboard Shop and use it on a scheduled pickup.

Order a green #5 bag

Included with the Almost Anything Plan.

New to ReCollective?

Join for doorstep hard-to-recycle collection, then add #5 plastic recycling when you need it.

Check your address & join

Only rigid plastic marked #5 or PP.

Check every container, lid and cup. Similar-looking pieces can be made from different plastics.

Accepted

Rigid plastic items clearly marked #5 or PP
Yogurt, butter, sour cream and dip tubs marked #5
Rigid takeout containers marked #5
Lids and disposable cups marked #5
Empty pill bottles marked #5
Stickers and product labels may stay attached

Not accepted

Items with no visible #5 symbol or PP marking
Plastics marked #1, #2, #3, #4, #6 or #7
Stretchy plastic film, bags and bubble mailers
Chip bags, pouches and other crinkly packaging
Foam or styrofoam containers
Food, liquids or heavily soiled containers

Keep material streams separate. The green #5 bag is separate from the blue #1 bag, Plastic Film bag and pink Crinkly Packaging bag.

A tub and its lid can be different plastics.

#5 polypropylene is used for tubs, lids, cups, takeout containers and pill bottles. Recycling programs do not always accept every shape marked #5.

Check the two pieces separately.

Even when a lid fits the container, it may be made from another plastic. Include only the pieces clearly marked #5 or PP.

Check the symbol

Confirm that each rigid piece is clearly marked #5 or PP.
Separate the pieces

Check the container and lid separately. Include only the pieces marked #5 or PP.
Remove food

Empty the item and give it a quick rinse when needed. It does not need to be spotless.
Set it out with recycling

Place accepted items in the green bag and set it beside your regular recycling bags on a scheduled pickup.

#5 plastic recycling questions.

What size is the green bag?

The bag holds approximately 13 gallons. Nesting or stacking similar containers helps maximize the available space.

Can lids go in the green bag?

Yes, when the lid itself is clearly marked #5 or PP. Check the container and lid separately because they may be made from different plastics.

Can #5 plastics go in the Plastic Film bag?

No. Plastic Film is a separate recycling stream for stretchy film and bags. Rigid #5 plastics belong in the green #5 bag.

What should I do if I cannot find a symbol?

Leave the item out of the green bag. Shape, color and flexibility are not reliable enough to identify polypropylene by themselves.

Where do the collected #5 plastics go?

The ReCollective works with Orange Recycling Services in Durham to sort and prepare collected #5 plastics. Sonoco also serves as an outlet for this material so it can move into established recycling markets.