Thursday Waste Reduction Tip #3

Empty plastic bottles before recycling

Simpsonville, S.C. — To prevent contamination of recyclables, rinse out plastic bottles before recycling them.

The leftover residue or original liquid can become both contamination for paper and the bottles themselves. Removing substances from plastic bottles before recycling also cuts down on odor, mold and pests.

Recyclables like plastic bottles do not need to be dishwasher clean to avoid the landfill. Simply rinse the bottles out and shake the excess water off; a few water droplets left behind is acceptable.

What is not acceptable is a plastic bottled half-filled with soda!

The "Thursday Waste Reduction Tip" is part of a public education campaign by the City of Simpsonville and Simpsonville Public Works Department to promote a comprehensive approach to waste reduction so as to ensure a Simply Sustainable Simpsonville.