No matter what the recycling number is (e.g. #1 through #7), most plastics start out as a petroleum product like oil or natural gas. The only exception is Compostable Plastics, which are not recyclable in your blue bin. All numbered hard plastics, and many similar plastics without numbers, are recyclable.

What do those numbers mean?

Let's get technical. The numbers identify the polymer structure of the plastic. You can think of them as being different types, and they are made and get recycled using different techniques:

• #1 - PET or PETE

  • Full Name: Polyethylene Terephthalate
  • Usually clear or green, glossy, rigid containers that sink in water
  • Clear and green soda bottles
  • Cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars
  • Salad dressing bottles and more food and drink containers

• #2 - HDPE

  • Full Name: High Density Polyethylene
  • Usually milky or solid colors and rigid containers
  • Plastic bags that are #2 are now recyclable at home. Read how to properly recycle plastic bags.
  • Milk jugs and yogurt or margarine tubs
  • Detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, and more containers

• #3 - PVC

  • Full Name: Polyvinyl Chloride
  • Semi-rigid, glossy, sinks in water
  • Water bottles, salad dressing bottles
  • Plastic pipes are NOT recyclable in your blue bin. PVC pipes are Plastic Trash.

• #4 - LDPE

  • Full Name: Low Density Polyethylene
  • Flexible, not crinkly
  • Many plastic bags are #4 and they are now recyclable in your blue bin. Read how to properly recycle plastic bags.
  • Squeezable bottles such as honey or mustard containers

• #5 - PP

  • Full Name: Polypropylene
  • Semi-rigid, low gloss, usually solid white or colored
  • Wet suits are often made out of "Poly-pro", but they are not recyclable in your blue bin. Read how to reuse wetsuits.
  • Yogurt containers, ketchup bottles
  • Drinking straws and other containers

• #6 - PS

  • Full Name: Polystyrene
  • Often brittle and glossy
  • Polystyrene foam also known as the trademarked Styrofoam is not recyclable in your blue bin. This is true even if it has #6 and the recycling symbol on it. Read how to reuse styrofoam.
  • Plastic cups and plates
  • CD cases, empty medicine bottles

• #7 - Other

  • These plastics are often specially made and contain many types of individual plastics. Even these are recyclable in your blue bin.
  • Tupperware, reusable drinking bottles
  • 3- and 5-gallon water bottles, juice bottles

Check out our Plastics #1 & #2 page and Plastics #3 — #7 page for more information.

How clean should my plastic containers be?

Fairly clean is good; free of residue is best. This is primarily to protect paper in your recycling bin from being contaminated. However, it is important for the plastic as well.

Do I need to remove the caps?

Don't worry about it. Even though plastic containers often have plastic tops that have different colors or may be of a different plastic type, they can be recycled together.

What about plastic bags?

Plastic bags, mainly #2 and #4, are are now recyclable in your blue bin! This just changed in July 2011. Just as with all plastic, cleaner is better. Read how to properly recycle plastic bags.

What about compostable or biodegradable plastic?

Compostable plastic is not recyclable. It is designed to be composted at commercial composting facilities. If this type of plastic gets thrown in the recycling, it can compromise the ability of the other plastics to get recycled. In most areas of the county, compostable plastic is considered plastic trash.

How do I get the CRV?

The California Redemption Value is available for beverage containers. Some of the sites below are buyback centers, but not all of them. Check out our CRV page for details, but if you see "California Redemption Value" on a location listed below, it should be a buyback center. Redeem away!

Where to go

• All of Santa Barbara County (2)

  • Craigslist
  • Junk Recyclers — 6520 Platt Avenue #650

• Santa Barbara Area (3)

  • *South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real
  • MarBorg Industries — 119 North Quarantina Street
  • MarBorg Industries' Recycling / ABOP Center — 725 Cacique Street

• Goleta & UCSB Area (2)

  • *South Coast Recycling & Transfer Station — 4430 Calle Real
  • MarBorg Industries Recycling/ABOP Center — 20 David Love Place

• Santa Ynez Valley (2)

  • *Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station — 4004 Foxen Canyon Road
  • Waste Management — 97 Commerce Drive

• Lompoc Valley & VAFB (1)

  • City of Lompoc Recycling Drop-off Facility — 1585 North "V" St

• Santa Maria Valley (1)

  • Waste Management — 1850 West Betteravia Road

• Cuyama Valley (1)

  • *New Cuyama Transfer Station — 5073 Highway 166

• Outside Santa Barbara County (5)

  • California Materials Exchange (CALMAX)
  • Earth911.com - Information Only — 1375 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 140
  • Hi-Cone Ringleader Program — 1140 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
  • RecycleMatch — 3375 Westpark Drive, Suite 321
  • Throwplace.com