Can I recycle chopsticks?
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Most chopsticks are plastic or wooden. Plastic chopsticks are not labeled with a recycling symbol, but they are usually made from polypropylene, which can be recycled in the city of Los Angeles’ blue bin if they are clean. Wooded chopsticks can be placed in L.A.’s green bin, along with garden trimmings and untreated, clean wood products such as skewers and popsicle sticks.
Because policies and recommendations can vary from city to city, each week we ask a sampling of officials from various municipalities to weigh in. Can you recycle wooden or plastic chopsticks in …
Burbank: Yes. Wooden chopsticks can go in the green bin. Plastic chopsticks can be brought to the Burbank Recycle Center’s mixed plastic bin.
Culver City: Yes. Wooden chopsticks can go in green bin. Plastic can be recycled only if labeled No. 1 through 6.
Glendale: Yes. Wooden chopsticks can go in green bin. Plastic chopsticks can be recycled.
Long Beach: No
Los Angeles: Yes. Wooden in green bin. Plastic can be recycled.
Manhattan Beach: No, for wooden; yes for clean plastic.
Riverside: Yes, for wooden (green bin); no, for plastic.
Santa Monica: Yes, for wooden (green bin); no, for plastic.
Torrance: No
Unincorporated L.A. County: Yes. Wooden in green bin. Clean plastic can be recycled.
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— Susan Carpenter