Can I recycle ... plastic untensils and straws?

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Plastic utensils are usually made of polyethylene terephthalate (plastic No. 1) or polystyrene (plastic No. 6). Drinking straws are usually made from polypropylene (plastic No. 5).

Although plasticware and plastic drinking straws are rarely marked with recycling symbols, they are recyclable in L.A.’s blue bin.

Plastic straws are lightweight, so they should be placed in a recycled plastic bag first to prevent them from blowing away.

Compostable or biodegradable plastic utensils cannot be recycled in L.A.’s blue bin or composted in the green bin; they must be placed in the black trash bin or composted in a home composter.

Because policies and recommendations can vary from city to city, each week we ask a sampling of officials from various municipalities to weigh in.

Keep reading to find out whether plastic utensils and straws can be recycled in…

Burbank: Not curbside. Plastic utensils and drinking straws can be placed in the mixed plastics bin at the Burbank Recycle Center

Culver City: Utensils, yes

Long Beach: No

Riverside: Yes

Santa Barbara: No

Santa Monica: No

Torrance: No

Ventura: Yes

-- Susan Carpenter

THE FULL SERIES:

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