Recycling #5 Plastics, Corks, Brita Filters

A friend told me some weeks ago that Whole Foods accepts some items for recycling. I called Whole Foods out on Route 1, took careful notes and then promptly misplaced them. The woman mentioned yogurt containers and other #5 plastics, and corks from wine bottles. She also said that Brita filters are #5 and can be returned there.

This past Saturday, there was an article in the NY Times about companies taking responsibility for recycling the packaging that comes with their products. It provided good context for that phone call to the local Whole Foods, and had information about PreserveProducts.com:

"Finally, in 2008, the company struck a deal to put collection bins in Whole Foods stores, and the effort took off. Customers can take any No. 5 container to Whole Foods stores — margarine tubs, other brands’ yogurt containers — where they are collected, taken to a plant for processing, and then turned into toothbrushes and razors by Preserve."

For Brita filter info, click here.
Click here and scroll down for a pictorial list of items made of #5 plastic.

As mentioned in previous posts, everything I've been able to learn about our curbside recyclables suggests that Princeton's hauler and recycling facility accept and market #5 and other plastics, but Mercer County is resisting adding plastics 3-7 to its official list of accepted curbside recyclables. In the meantime, the Whole Foods/PreserveProducts option at least provides more certainty about where the recyclables will end up.

Another option is to make yogurt at home, which I've heard is quite easy to do.