Your first impulse to dipose of too-old Tupperware is likely to recycle plastic storage containers, but is Tupperware recyclable?
In a lot of cases, yes, but that doesn’t mean you can just throw your old Tupperware container in your curbside blue bin.
Just because it’s made of plastic, doesn’t mean recycling programs in your area are necessarily equipped to process it.
And adding items to your recycling because you hope they’ll be recyclable (i.e. wishcycling) can end up being detrimental to your local facilities, slowing down recycling progress across the country and eating into precious resources.
Recycling Tupperware Containers Locally
To find out if your Tupperware material is recyclable, you need to know what type of plastic Tupperware is made from.
Start by flipping it over. Ideally, you’ll see a Mobius loop on the bottom, or the universal recycling symbol, along with a number.
Chances are, you’ll see a #4 (low-density polyethylene) or #5 (polypropylene), though there are always exceptions.
Next look up which plastics your local recycling facility can handle. Metro areas are more likely to take a broader range of plastics, while rural parts of the country might limit what they recycle because the volume isn’t high enough to make economic sense.
Generally, these types of plastic are:
- #1 (PET/PETE) is recyclable
- #2 (HDPE) is recyclable
- #3 (PVC) can technically be recycled, but usually isn’t
- #4 (LDPE) can be recycled but usually requires drop-off at a specific location (e.g., grocery store collection bins)
- #5 (PP) can be recycled, but usually not in your curbside bin and not in rural areas
- #6 (PS) can’t be recycled
- #7 (all other plastics) depends on the type
Do your homework to look up local recycling guidelines, because even if certain types of plastic are recyclable near you, they still might not recycle Tupperware containers.
For example, our local municiple recycling facilities accept plastics #1 (polyethylene terephthalate) or #2 (high-density polyethylene), but ONLY in bottle form, so we still can’t recycle plastic Tupperware there.
If this is the case, there may be a local council or specialist service in your area that takes plastic your local center can’t process.
Recycling Plastic Tupperware With Terracycle
If your local recyclers can’t handle your old food containers, Terracycle is a fail-safe answer for what to do with old Tupperware lids and containers.
They specialize in tough-to-recycle products, sending them to specialized recycling centers to be properly processed.
It might cost you money, though, depending on who made the product.
Manufacturers like Rubbermaid® and Ziploc® Endurables™ fund recycling programs through TerraCycle, so they’ll accept the item at no cost to you.
Otherwise, the Plastic Packaging Zero Waste Box accepts all types of rigid and flexible plastic except foamed or biodegradable plastic and PLA.Get some friends and family members to go in on a box with you to save on the cost.
Recycling Non-Plastic Food Storage Containers
If you’re storing your food in aluminum or glass containers (infinitely recyclable raw materials), you can almost definitely send those to your thrift store or recycling facility when you no longer need them.
