Bottles:

• The neck of the container is smaller than the body of the container and accepts screw-type or snap on cap closures.
• Usually contains liquids.
• Examples: water bottles, milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles

Tubs:

• A tub is a container that is circular, oblong, or square.
• It may have an unattached snap-on lid or cover.
• Examples: butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt containers.

Clamshells are NOT tubs

Plastic containers with a hinged top (called clamshells) that are used for takeout, prepackaged fresh fruits or vegetables, and other foods are NOT considered tubs. 

Plastic you can’t recycle on campus

• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic bags
• Plastic containers with a hinged top (called clamshells)
• Plastic to-go cups (including Starbucks)
• Plastic straws
• Plastic toys

 

 

 

Recycling works best when you avoid placing contaminants in the recycle bin. There are two main types of contaminants in the recycling stream:

• items placed in the bin that aren’t accepted, and
• items that are accepted but aren’t rinsed or wiped of food/liquid residue.

"Wish-cylcers”–those who place an item in the recycling bin hoping or wishing it will get recycled—have good intentions but actually hinder the successful recycling of materials. Do your best to understand what's accepted and how to prepare it before you put it in the bin.

 

 

Don't recycle anything you aren’t certain is accepted or clean enough. Fewer contaminants in the recycling stream means accepted recyclables are processed efficiently and safely.

The classic 3 "R's"—reduce, reuse and recycle—are in that order intentionally. You can have a bigger impact by first reducing the amount of plastic items you use, then reusing plastic items you already have, and finally recycling used plastic items.