Sustainable Services

Plastic Bottle Recycling Guidelines

What’s a bottle?

Check for the Neck! Recycle bottles, jars and jugs with openings that are smaller than the base (or widest part), or have a “screw top.”

Do Include These Types of Plastics	Don't Include These Types of Plastics
Kitchen	Kitchen
Soda, Milk, Juice, Water, Sports Drinks	Tubs, Such as Yogurt or Margarine
Syrup, Ketchup	Convenience Food Trays
Cooking Oils	Bags, Films or Wrap
Jars With Necks, Like Peanut Butter	Coffee Cups
	Food Storage & Microwave Containers
	Pails, Such as Ice Cream
Household	Household
kitty litter jar
Liquid Dish Detergent	Toys
Liquid Household Cleaner	Pesticide & Herbicide Bottles
Laundry Detergent, Bleach & Fabric Softener	Motor Oil Containers
Bathroom	Solvent, Paint & Adhesive Containers
Shampoo, Conditioner	Medical Supplies
Liquid Soap	Flower Pots & Garden Plastics
Mouthwash	Plumbing Supplies
Pump Hairspray	Bubble Wrap & Packing Styrofoam

Recycling Plastic Bottles is Easy. Here's How:

• Remove and throw away caps, lids and pumps.

• Empty and rinse.

• If you are able, crush plastic bottles so they take up less room in the recycling container.

• Place empty, uncapped and flattened plastic bottles in a paper bag inside your curbside recycling bin or use a separate box placed next to the blue bin.

• At drop-off sites, simply place bottles in the barrel designated for plastics.

Due to market demands, only plastic containers that are BOTTLE-SHAPED can be recycled in Durango’s program at this time. Other types of plastic will contaminate the batch and render the rest of the contents un-recyclable.

Recycled plastics are turned into many products:

• carpeting

• fleece

• pillow stuffing

• t-shirts

• new plastic containers

• plastic lumber deck

• park benches

• garden furniture