Plastic Cutlery
- DON’T put these items into curbside recycling (or any plastic bags they come in)
- DO try to reduce how many of these items you receive, or reuse them when possible
About These Items
Plastic cutlery is often use as disposable, single-use utensils at events or food service locations. Plastic cutlery is not accepted in the City of Pittsburgh’s curbside recycling. Due to their small size, unusual shape, light weight, and material variation, they aren’t desired or accepted in most recycling programs.
Many plastic cutlery pieces are not individually marked with a plastic resin code (that small number in a triangle often stamped on plastic items) but most are made of #3 or #6 plastic, which is not common or valuable to recycle. So in general, plastic cutlery should be disposed of in the trash.
Incredibly, the US generates 40 billion disposable utensils a year. If you want to reduce the amount of plastic utensils you generate, consider specifically requesting “no utensils” when ordering take-out or delivery. In addition, carrying a reusable utensil set can help you avoid taking single-use plastic utensils when eating food on the run.
A Few Exceptions
If you know the cutlery is #2 or #5 plastic…
If your cutlery is clearly marked as #2 or #5, you can recycle it through 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!
If it’s a bioplastic utensil or labeled “compostable”…
Occasionally you may find bioplastic utensils which may be labeled as compostable. Technically, these utensils may be compostable but they most likely would require a commercial composting facility in order to successfully biodegrade in a reasonable timeframe. Currently there are no options for individuals to drop off compostable utensils for commercial composting in the Pittsburgh area that we are aware of. If you know of one, please let us know.
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