Are Plastic Straws Recyclable?

Are Plastic Straws Recyclable?

It is estimated that Americans use and discard 500 million plastic straws every day. That's enough to fill over 125 school buses every single day. With these staggering numbers, it is essential to consider whether plastic straws can be recycled.

Plastic straws are recyclable, but they are often too small to make it through the sorting machines at the recycling facility. Therefore, many times they slip through the cracks and end up in landfills instead of being recycled.

Plastic Straws Recycling Near Me

See the below map for locations where you can recycle plastic straws.

Can You Make Money Recycling Plastic Straws?

The answer is yes and no. On one hand, you can make a little bit of money by recycling plastic straws as long as you have a large amount to recycle. However, due to their small size, most facilities will not accept them or give you any money for them.

Similarly, see if you can recycle plastic trash bags.

What Alternatives Are Available?

If you are looking for an alternative to plastic straws, there are several options available on the market today. Paper straws, steel straws and bamboo straws are all popular options that are reusable and eco-friendly. Additionally, some businesses have started using compostable plant-based plastic straws that can be recycled along with other organic materials such as food scraps and paper products.

Similarly, see if you can recycle plastic storage bins.

How To Properly Recycle Plastic Straws

If you do decide to use plastic straws and want to ensure they get recycled properly, there are a few things you should keep in mind when disposing of them:

1. Avoid putting them in your curbside bin as they may not be accepted by your local recycling facility; 2) Look for drop off programs in your area where you can bring your used plastic straws; 3) If possible, check with local restaurants or bars that may be willing to take them off your hands; 4) Consider investing in a reusable stainless steel or bamboo set of drinking utensils that will last much longer than a disposable plastic item; 5) Cut up larger pieces of plastics so that it’ll fit through the sorting machines at the recycling center more easily; 6) Check with local schools or community centers who may be willing to accept donations of clean plastics for art projects or souvenirs.

Similarly, see if you can recycle plastic caps.

Impact Of Not Recycling Plastic Straws

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues facing our planet today. If we don't take steps now to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics like straws and start recycling more regularly, then we could see some serious effects including increased levels of ocean debris and marine life entanglement/ingestion caused by discarded plastics as well as higher rates of air pollution from burning these items in landfills