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How to Recycle Plastic Drinking Straws

How to Recycle Plastic Drinking Straws

Plastic drinking straws are generally polypropylene (the same stuff yoghurt containers are made from) so most councils can recycle them

You should check your local council recycling list. The council may, for instance, ask you to put the straw inside another plastic container.

Think twice before accepting a straw. Many times you don't need them and it's just too easy to pick one up. The thing with plastic drinking straws are that their single use for a few minutes is at a cost of adding something that does not break down. 

There are many excellent alternatives to plastic drinking straws like glass, bamboo or metal drinking straws. They are inexpensive and can last a lifetime. The best alternative is to stop using them in the first place unless you have a medical need to do so!


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Science Notes

Plastic drinking straws are made from either HDPE High Density Polyethylene (# 2) plastic or PP Polypropylene (#5) Number 5 plastics. HDPE is always recyclable and PP is increasingly recyclable.

Related Tip

If a hard plastic item is unable to be scrunched and doesn't easily break, then it can be recycled in your council recycling bin. If the soft plastic item CAN be scrunched up easily into a ball then it can be placed in a REDcycle Program drop off bin.