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Curbside plastic recycling is back — #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles and jugs

Thanks to you, we’re able to add specific, frequently used plastics back into the curbside recycling program.

Good news! You can now toss plastic bottles and jugs stamped with #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) into your red-lid recycling cart for curbside pick up.

Check the neck, check the shape, check the number

In order to keep the curbside recycling stream clean, it’s important that you follow these requirements when adding plastics back to the mix.

  • #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles and jugs only
  • The neck of the bottle or jug needs to be smaller than the base
  • Containers must be rinsed out, with no lids

Which plastics can and can’t go in the cart?

Below are a few examples of the types of plastic bottles we now accept:

#1 PET

  • water bottles
  • sports drink bottles
  • 2-liter pop bottles
  • salad dressing containers
  • vegetable oil bottles
  • juice bottles

#2 HDPE

  • milk jug style containers
  • detergent bottles
  • bleach bottles
  • fabric softener bottles
  • vinegar bottles
  • shampoo and conditioner bottles

Unacceptable materials: No plastic bags of any kind, no plastic trays, no clamshell containers, no tubs, no buckets — and no plastics stamped with the numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.

The “why” behind the change

In the spring of 2018, the global recycling market crisis forced us to simplify the list of materials we could collect curbside each week. At that time, we committed to adding materials back to the mix — if our recycling stream became cleaner and if we could find stable domestic markets for any additional materials.

The good news? By streamlining the list of accepted materials and working with customers to eliminate contamination, we have been able to send 100% of the red-lid roll cart materials we’ve collected to recycling processors right here in Oregon for more than a year. So now it’s time to say hello to a familiar face… Welcome back, plastic bottles and jugs!

Did you know you can also bring all the materials you recycle curbside to the Transfer Station too — along with glass bottles and jars and office paper. Click here for details.

You can also redeem plastic water bottles, sports drink bottles and 2-liter pop bottles for 10¢ each at the Medford BottleDrop Center.

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