Recycle This Pittsburgh

Plastic Container Lids

About These Items

These are the thin, light lids that come on all sorts of plastic food containers like yogurt, spreadable butter, dips, etc. These lids are generally not accepted by the city’s curbside recycling program. Many of these lids are small and flimsy and can cause issues with the recycling processing equipment.

You can recycle #5 and #2 lids through dedicated recycling programs. See below for more details.

Drop-off or Mail-in #5 (or #2) lids.

Many of these lids are made from #5 plastic (polypropylene or PP). If you look at the underside of these lids, you should find a plastic code, which looks like a number inside the reduce-reuse-recycle symbol. (Look carefully, sometimes it can be quite small or a shallow imprint that can be hard to see. ) If the number is listed as 5, there are a couple of recycling channels you can submit it to. Additionally, if the lid is a #2 (High-density polyethylene or HDPE), the local drop-off at Reimagined Recycling is also possible. Keep reading for more information:

Drop-off at Reimagined Recycling

Reimagined Recycling is a local program that collects rigid #2 and #5 plastics to be shredded and turned into raw materials to be made into new plastic items.

They run collections on select Sundays at 1225 Larimer Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Currently collection events are announced on their Instagram @reimaginedrecyling or on their facebook page. Please check these links for exact dates and times of collection events.

Items must be cleaned with all labels removed. Please remember to wear a mask and follow Reimagined Recycling on for updates and more exciting news to come!

Drop-off at Michael Brothers Hauling

Michael Brothers Hauling is collecting ALL #1 and #2 plastics (including clamshells, cups, etc) at their location at 901 Horning Rd. 15236. They also accept (and even pay for) scrap metal. Their drop-off is a drive through.

Mail to Preserve’s Gimme 5 program with other rigid #5 plastics.

Preserve runs a collection program called Gimme 5 that accepts #5 plastics, all plastic caps, prescription bottles, toothbrushes, and dip & dairy containers.

Please note that as of June 29, 2022, Preserver has still paused their Gimme 5 mail in program due to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that their Preserve Toothbrush Takeback program IS running during this time.

You can mail in your #5 plastics to the Gimme 5 program. (To make this mail-in recycling program as environmentally-friendly as possible, Preserve encourages you to reuse a box and pack it densely, and if possible, ship by ground.)

Mail to:
Preserve Gimme 5
823 State Route 13
Cortland, NY 13045-6574