Which plastic containers to keep, reuse or recycle

How to judge whether a food container is still worth keeping, what the numbers on plastic mean, and how to recycle the rest under local rules.

Published October 19, 2026

Clearing out a container drawer always raises the same question: which of these are still worth keeping, and what do you do with the rest? This guide helps you decide, explains the little numbers molded into plastic, and points out why the answer to "can I recycle this?" depends so much on where you live.

Signs a container should be retired

Food containers do not last forever, especially plastic ones. Consider retiring a container when:

It is cracked, split or chipped. Cracks can trap food and are hard to clean, and they tend to spread.
The lid no longer seals. Warping from heat is the usual cause. If the lid only closes on one side, it will not keep food fresh or stop leaks.
The inside is rough, pitted or deeply scratched. Scratches make a surface harder to clean properly.
It holds onto smells or greasy residue even after thorough washing.
It was never meant for reuse. Thin takeout tubs, yogurt and margarine containers, and similar packaging are designed for the product they came with. Reusing them for cold storage now and then is common, but they wear out quickly.

Light staining on its own is mostly cosmetic. A container with tomato-colored patches that is otherwise smooth and sealing well can keep working. Our guide to caring for containers has ways to lift stains and smells.

Give good containers a second job

A container that is no longer right for food can still be useful elsewhere: sorting screws and craft supplies, holding seeds or seedlings in the garden, storing small toys, or organizing a junk drawer. Once a container has moved to non-food use, keep it there.

Lidless containers are good drawer dividers. Orphan lids make handy coasters for jars of oil or honey, or saucers under small plant pots.

What the numbers on plastic mean

Many plastic items have a number from 1 to 7 inside a triangle of arrows, usually on the bottom. This is the resin identification code. It tells you what kind of plastic the item is made from. It does not mean the item is recyclable where you live, even though the arrows make it look that way.

The codes are:

PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate): drink bottles and many clear food trays.
HDPE (high-density polyethylene): milk jugs, detergent bottles, some tubs.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride): some cling wraps and blister packs; rarely seen in food containers today.
LDPE (low-density polyethylene): bags, films and some squeezable bottles and flexible lids.
PP (polypropylene): many reusable food storage containers, yogurt tubs, deli containers and lids.
PS (polystyrene): foam takeout boxes and some rigid clear clamshells and cups.
Other: everything else, including mixed plastics and some newer materials.

In many places, codes 1 and 2 are the most widely accepted in household recycling. Acceptance of the others varies a great deal from one program to the next.

Why local rules matter so much

Recycling programs are run locally, and each one can only accept what its sorting facility can handle and what it can sell on. That is why a tub accepted in one town may be rejected in the next. Before you put containers in the recycling bin, check your local program's website or printed guide. Look for answers to these questions:

Which resin codes or item types are accepted?
Are tubs and lids accepted, or only bottles and jugs?
Should lids be removed, left on, or thrown away?
Are black plastic containers accepted? Many sorting systems have trouble detecting black plastic, so some programs exclude it.
Is foam polystyrene accepted at all, or only at a drop-off point?

When in doubt, many programs recommend leaving an item out rather than guessing. An item the facility cannot process can contaminate a load or simply end up as waste anyway.

Prepare recyclables properly

If your program accepts a container, a little preparation helps:

Empty it and give it a quick rinse so food does not soil paper and cardboard in the same bin.
Let it dry, since water and food residue can cause problems at the facility.
Follow your program's instructions about lids.
Do not bag recyclables unless your program asks you to. Many curbside programs want items loose.

Glass containers

Glass food containers last a long time and are easy to keep clean. If one chips or cracks, retire it, since damaged glass can break unexpectedly. Ovenware and other heat-treated glass is often not accepted in household glass recycling, because it melts at a different temperature from bottles and jars. Check your local rules before putting it in the bin.

Buy less, keep longer

The most effective step is simply needing fewer containers. A smaller set of sturdy containers in a couple of shapes, cared for properly, will outlast a drawer full of mismatched tubs. Our guide to organizing a food storage drawer walks through cutting a collection down to what you actually use.

If sorting the real thing has left you wanting more, the game version is waiting, and nothing in it needs recycling.