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How to Recycle HDPE Containers (#2)
High-density polyethylene jugs and bottles for milk, juice, laundry detergent, shampoo, and household cleaners. Natural (unpigmented) HDPE has higher recycling value than colored HDPE. EPA reported a 29.3% recycling rate for HDPE natural bottles in 2018.
Check local acceptance#2 HDPELast reviewed July 31, 2026
Quick answer
Milk jugs, detergent bottles, and other HDPE (#2) containers are widely accepted in US curbside recycling, but local lists control. EPA reported a 29.3% recycling rate for natural HDPE bottles in 2018. Empty, rinse, and follow local instructions for the cap; keep motor-oil bottles out of curbside recycling. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Recycling code
- #2 HDPE
How to Prepare
- 1Empty completely and rinse out soap, detergent, or food residue
- 2Replace plastic caps on the container (same caps-on logic as PET for many programs)
- 3Remove pump dispensers, spray nozzles, and trigger sprayers (metal springs and mixed plastics)
- 4Leave labels if they do not peel easily
- 5Confirm #2 HDPE on the bottom
- 6Dry containers before the bin
- 7Route motor oil and other hazardous-residue bottles to HHW or used-oil programs, not curbside
Where to Recycle
- Curbside recycling
- Recycling centers
- Grocery store collection areas
Special Instructions
Rinse detergent and cleaner bottles thoroughly; residue lowers flake quality. Motor oil HDPE bottles are not curbside recyclables in typical municipal programs (contamination/hazardous-residue rules). Natural/unpigmented HDPE usually sells for more than colored HDPE.
Environmental Impact
HDPE recycles into new bottles, plastic lumber, playground equipment, and outdoor furniture. EPA's 2018 rate for natural HDPE bottles is 29.3%. Clean, rinsed household HDPE is one of the two bottle resins (with PET) that most US MRFs are set up to recover.
Closing the loop on milk jugs
Recycled #2 HDPE goes into lumber and decking, and also into consumer goods. Re-Play makes children’s plates, bowls, and cups from milk jugs collected in the US, which is one of the more visible examples of where a rinsed jug can end up.
See what recycled milk jugs are made intoSponsoredSustainable Alternatives
- Concentrated products to reduce packaging
- Refillable containers
- Bulk buying to reduce container waste
- Glass containers for food storage
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Milk and juice jugs
- Laundry detergent bottles (rinsed)
- Household cleaner bottles (thoroughly rinsed)
- Shampoo and conditioner bottles
- Large yogurt or dairy tubs marked #2 HDPE
Not Accepted
- Motor oil bottles (use HHW / used-oil collection)
- Containers with hazardous chemical residue
- Pump dispensers and spray mechanisms
- Paint or industrial chemical bottles
- Containers with significant food residue
FAQs
Can I recycle HDPE motor oil bottles curbside?
No. Typical municipal programs treat motor oil containers as hazardous-residue plastic. Drain oil to a used-oil collection site and ask your HHW program how to handle the empty bottle.
Should the cap stay on?
For plastic caps, most programs now accept caps on, consistent with APR's empty-and-replace guidance. Remove pumps and metal parts first.
Natural vs colored HDPE: does it matter?
Both are recyclable, but natural (clear/white) HDPE has higher market value because it can be remade into a wider range of products without color contamination.
Why remove pump sprayers?
Pumps mix metal springs with multiple plastic types that MRFs cannot separate cleanly. Recycle the rinsed bottle; trash or specialty-recycle the pump.
Related recycling guides
- How to recycle PVC Pipes (#3)
- How to recycle PET Bottles (#1)
- How to recycle Plastic Bags (#4)
- How to recycle Bulky Rigid Plastic
- How to recycle Polypropylene Containers (#5)
- How to recycle Compostable Plastics
- How to recycle Polystyrene Foam (#6)
- How to recycle Black Plastic Containers
- How to recycle Mixed Plastics (#7)
- How to recycle Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Recycle hdpe containers (#2)
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