Takeout Containers (Plastic) Special Instructions Plastic takeout containers labeled #1, #2, or #5 go in the recycling cart. Plastic takeout containers labeled #6 go in the landfill cart. Rinse Out Before Recycling Plastic containers should be scraped and rinsed before they are put in the recycling. Food traces contaminate the recycling process. Compostable Plastics Do not recycle plastic containers labeled “compostable” because they are not recyclable. They will be contaminate the recyclable plastic if they do not get separated during the sorting process. Ways to Reduce Bring Your Own To-Go Container When dining out, bring a reusable to-go container so that you can bring leftovers home sustainably. Reusable Packaging For Businesses Check out Upstream’s catalog of reusable packaging and unpackaging innovators that provide ways for consumers to obtain products, mostly food and beverages, in returnable, reusable, or refillable packaging – or they deliver products to consumers unpackaged altogether. Did You Know? The Preferred Takeout Container Out of all the types of takeout containers — aluminum, cardboard, wax-lined paperboard, plastic and foam — aluminum is the easiest for recycling plants to recycle, while foam is the most difficult.