Waste Management adds to-go cups, plastic tubs to curbside recycling list

CHELAN COUNTY — Waste Management (WM) has expanded its list of acceptable items in the recycling bin in an effort to reduce waste.

"The goal is to reduce waste, improve recycling and deliver important sustainability results for communities in the Wenatchee Valley. This is part of WM’s broader commitment to invest over $1.4 billion in recycling infrastructure through 2026,” said Mackenzi Borja, WM education and outreach coordinator.

WM now accepts hot and cold to-go cups and certain plastic tubs, such as those used for yogurt, cottage cheese, or butter, and clear tubs for take-out. The service accepts paper cups for hot coffee, as well as those used for cold coffee or soda that are made of polypropylene, or #5 plastic. Cups made of #6 plastic, such as red Solo cups, are not accepted. The number can typically be found on the bottom of the item.

These items are transported to the SMaRT Center, WM's regional recycling facility in Spokane. According to Borja, investing in advanced recycling technology at the SMaRT Center has allowed the company to capture more recyclable materials from homes, schools and businesses.

The recently added items join a universal list of accepted recyclable materials in WM’s mixed stream recycling, including plastic bottles without lids, aluminum and steel cans, paper and cardboard — all of which can be potentially used again in a new product or package. 

While cups and tubs are now accepted, the lids are not. Lids, K-Cup coffee pods and plastic clamshells, often used for strawberries or salad greens, should be thrown in the trash, as WM does not recycle these items. Straws should also stay out of the recycling bins.

Local nonprofit Sustainable NCW (SNCW), which collaborates closely with WM in North Central Washington, can help clear confusion about what is or isn’t accepted. The Waste Wizard is a searchable resource for how, where and when to recycle, repurpose, repair, donate or safely dispose of hundreds of materials in Chelan and Douglas counties.

“We urge our community to use the Waste Wizard as a reference to know how to recycle correctly,” said Marlene Farrell, SNCW Executive Director. “We’re here to help.”

The tool can be found at sustainablencw.org/wastewizard.