You can recycle #5 plastic in California through your curbside bin, but only the rigid kind. Polypropylene tubs, bottles, jars, cups, lids, plates, and trays qualify under CalRecycle’s recyclability evaluations. Flexible #5 items, including films, bags, and utensils, do not, even though they carry the same number.1CalRecycle. Covered Material Category (CMC) List December 2023
The number stamped on a container tells you what the plastic is made of, not whether your local facility can process it. For #5 polypropylene, the shape and stiffness of the item matters more than the resin code.
Which #5 Items Belong in the Bin
CalRecycle’s Covered Material Category list splits polypropylene into two groups. Rigid items are considered potentially recyclable statewide. Flexible items are not.
Recyclable rigid #5 plastic includes:
- Bottles, jugs, and jars
- Thermoformed containers, cups, plates, trays, and tubs
- Lids
- Other rigid polypropylene items
Not recyclable through curbside programs:
- Polypropylene utensils
- Clear non-bag film
- Other flexible and film items
A yogurt tub and a polypropylene chip bag are both #5 plastic. Only the tub belongs in your recycling bin.1CalRecycle. Covered Material Category (CMC) List December 2023 Putting the wrong items in the bin contaminates the rigid polypropylene that facilities can actually process, and heavily contaminated loads can be diverted to landfill.
How to Identify #5 Plastic
Look for a “5” molded into the bottom or side of the container, usually inside a triangular symbol. In California, that symbol is about to become more meaningful.
Under the state’s Accurate Recycling Labels law (SB 343), manufacturers can only place the resin identification number inside the familiar “chasing arrows” triangle if the product meets California’s statewide recyclability criteria. Products that don’t qualify must use a plain triangle.2California Legislative Information. California Code PRC 18015
To earn the chasing arrows, the material has to be accepted for collection by recycling programs serving at least 60 percent of California’s population and sorted into defined recycling streams by processing facilities serving at least 60 percent of programs statewide. A product with a demonstrated recycling rate above 75 percent is automatically considered compliant.3California Legislative Information. California Code PRC 42355.51
The labeling rules apply to products and packaging manufactured after October 4, 2026. After that date, a #5 inside chasing arrows signals a product verified as recyclable in California; a #5 inside a plain triangle signals it likely is not, and belongs in the trash.4CalRecycle. SB 343 Accurate Recycling Labels
How to Prepare #5 Plastic for Recycling
Empty the container and rinse it. A few seconds of water to clear out yogurt, sauce, or grease is enough. You don’t need to scrub it spotless; the point is to keep food residue from spoiling other recyclables during sorting and storage.
Leave the cap on. Modern sorting equipment handles attached caps well, and a loose cap is more likely to fall through screens and end up in the landfill. Labels can also stay on. Facilities use hot-wash processes that strip labels and adhesives from polypropylene during processing.
Local haulers sometimes have slightly different preferences, so check yours if you’re unsure about a specific item.
CRV Refunds for #5 Beverage Bottles
If your #5 item is a beverage container, you can get a California Redemption Value refund by taking it to a recycling center instead of using the curbside bin. Eligible plastic beverage containers include bottles for water, juice, soda, tea, coffee drinks, beer, and wine coolers. The refund is 5 cents for containers under 24 ounces and 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or larger.5CalRecycle. Beverage Container Recycling
CalRecycle’s recycling locator lets you find CRV redemption sites by county.6CalRecycle. Where to Recycle
Checking Your Local Program
Rigid #5 plastic is broadly recyclable across California, but the exact rules for your bin are set by your local waste hauler. Your city or county waste management website will list accepted materials and any local quirks, such as whether lids need to stay attached. CalRecycle’s “Where to Recycle” tool also searches public recycling locations by county.6CalRecycle. Where to Recycle If a specific item isn’t covered on either site, call your hauler. They answer these questions all day and can give you a definitive answer for your address.