Oh no! Did you forget to bring a reusable container to your favorite restaurant and need to get your food to-go?

Don’t worry, we have the answers for you in this week’s Where Can I Wednesday?

Where to recycle takeout containers:

Is your takeout container plastic?

Good news for you – plastic cups, plates & to-go containers can all go into your single-stream recycling bin.

Is your takeout container styrofoam?

However, food-stained boxes, stryofoam (ugh) and pizza boxes must go in the garbage.  (I personally cut the grease-stained pizza portion off to recycle the untainted part).

**Update: Philadelphia residents can take Foam (or styrofoam) containers #6 to the Northeast Sanitation Convenience Center at State & Ashburner Streets, but can NOT go in Single-Stream recycling.  

Is your takeout container compostable?

Typically, compostable containers contain language on the bottom that say they are so. Some plastic compostables may only be compostable in a composting facility, which we don’t have yet.

Try to avoid getting takeout (and containers) altogether by ordering smaller portions or sharing with a friend.

Pics courtesy of this site

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher