How to Recycle Solo Cups

Solo cups can be recycled.

The Solo Cup Company makes several different types of plastic cups. These cups can be used at parties, picnics or graduations to make cleanup a breeze. Fortunately, Solo cups can be recycled. Where you recycle the Solo cups will depend on which types of plastic your local recycling center accepts. There are seven different types of plastics with a number assigned to each one. The number represents which type of plastic the product is made from.

Things You'll Need

• Hot water

Instructions

1. Locate the resin number on the Solo cup. The number should be inside of a triangle. It will be a number between one and seven.

2. Call your local waste management company or recycling center to find out if they are accepting that type of plastic. Just let them know the resin number you found on the Solo cup. If they are not accepting that number, use Earth911's recycling center locator tool (see Resources) to find the closest center accepting that type.

3. Rinse all of the Solo cups out with hot water and set them out to dry. Some recycling facilities expect all recyclable plastics to be cleaned of food or drink before they are brought in.

4. Place the Solo cups in your recycling bin and set it out on the curb on trash collection day. Do this if your township is accepting the resin number on the Solo cups. If not, place the Solo cups in a box and transport them to the closest recycling center that is accepting that type of plastic.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have different types of Solo cups, group each resin number together in its own box. For example, you may have one box for resin number six and another box for resin number seven.

References

• Solo Cup Company: FAQ
• The Michigan Daily: From the Daily: Solutions for Solo Cups
• Earth911: Plastic 101

Resources

• Earth911: Find a Recycling Center