Note by SoMar: What many of us call styrofoam is actually polystyrene so it is NOT recyclable but is black bin trash.
While clean and empty plastics marked with the numbers 1, 2 and 5 are still allowed in the blue bin, plastics marked with the numbers 3, 4, 6 and 7 are no longer allowed because they cannot be recycled, even if they include a recycling symbol.
Following are items that are no longer allowed in the blue bins:
- Plastic 3 (polyvinyl chloride), including clear food wrapping, teething rings and kids and pet toys
- Plastic 4 (low-density polyethylene), including shrink wrap, dry-cleaner bags, plastic shopping bags, squeezable bottles and bread packaging bags
- Plastic 6 (polystyrene), including disposable cups, plastic utensils, food containers and foam packaging material
- Plastic 7 (polycarbonate), including water bottles, food containers, eyewear and electronic devices
- Plastic 7 (polylactic acid), including packaging materials, disposable cutlery and food containers
- Plastic 7 (polyurethane), including adhesives, foam cushions and sealants/flexible coatings
- Plastic 7 (acrylic), including display cases and home décor
- Plastic 7 (biodegradable/composable plastics), including packaging, cutlery and food containers
Following are items that can still be recycled through the blue bin:
- Plastic 1 (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET), including soda and water bottles with lids and caps on
- Plastic 2 (high-density polyethylene, or HDPE), including laundry soap, lotion, shampoo bottles and milk jugs
- Plastic 5 (polypropylene, or PP), including retail food containers for yogurt, butter and margarine (but not black microwave meal trays)
- From Spectrum News:
- By Susan Carpenter Los Angeles
- PUBLISHED 12:18 PM PT Aug. 29, 2023
South Mar Vista Neighborhood Association 