Recycle This Pittsburgh

Plastic Tub Containers

About These Items

These are plastic tub containers with a wide opening at top that often are used as food containers for things like yogurt, spreadable butter, dips, etc. The city’s curbside recycling program does not take any of these items.

Many plastic tub containers are #5 plastic. There is a dedicated #5 recycling program called Gimme 5 that requires you to mail-in these items. There is also a local #5 and #2 recycling drop-off that will take these items. See more details below.

Why aren’t these items accepted?

When it comes to plastic items, the city recycling program is really only looking for plastic bottles and jugs with a neck shape to them like a drink bottle or detergent bottle, or jars with necks like peanut butter containers. That’s because these items are typically made of the higher-density, higher-value plastic which the city’s processor can more easily sell. Meanwhile, many of these small plastic tubs are made of #5 plastics, which the city currently does not accept in part because the city’s recycling processor does not have a sale channel set up for these types of plastic. In an effort to eliminate these lower-value items which dilute the higher-value plastics, the city has stopped taking these items completely.

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

Many of these containers are made from #5 plastic (polypropylene or PP). If you look at the underside of these containers, 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. Also note that the lids of these containers are often a different type of plastic than the bottoms and are less likely to be #5 plastic. ) If the number is listed as 5, there are a couple of recycling channels you can submit it to. Additionally, if the container 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