Are Plastic Straws Recyclable?

Plastic straws are generally not recyclable in curbside programs due to their small size, lightweight construction, and the type of plastic used in their manufacture. Most disposable straws are made from polypropylene (#5 plastic) or polystyrene (#6 plastic), materials that are theoretically recyclable but present significant practical challenges for recycling facilities. The primary issues include their tiny size and weight – straws fall through sorting screens and get lost in the recycling process, often ending up as contamination in other material streams. Additionally, straws are frequently contaminated with food and beverage residues that make them unsuitable for recycling even if they could be effectively sorted. The flexible accordion section in bendable straws is made from different materials that cannot be easily separated, further complicating recycling efforts. Most recycling facilities are not equipped to handle such small, lightweight items economically, as the sorting and cleaning costs exceed the value of the recovered plastic. Even when straws are made from recyclable plastics, their low volume and high contamination rates make them economically unviable for most recycling programs. The environmental movement away from single-use plastics has led many jurisdictions to ban plastic straws entirely, and the food service industry has been transitioning to paper, metal, or compostable alternatives. Some specialty recycling programs exist for clean plastic straws in large quantities, but these are rare and typically limited to commercial or institutional settings.

Plastic straws should not be placed in curbside recycling bins and should instead be disposed of in regular household trash. Their small size means they will not be effectively sorted at recycling facilities and will likely contaminate other recycling streams. If you have large quantities of clean, unused plastic straws (such as from a restaurant or event), contact your local waste management authority to ask about specialized programs, though these are rare. Some TerraCycle programs have historically accepted plastic straws through specialized mail-in collections, but availability changes frequently. Before disposal, consider if straws can be reused for craft projects, plant support in gardens, or other creative applications. However, straws that have been used for drinking should go directly to trash due to contamination concerns. The best approach is to avoid using disposable plastic straws when possible – most beverages can be consumed without straws, and reusable metal, glass, or silicone straws provide sustainable alternatives for those who need them. Many restaurants and businesses now offer paper or compostable straws as alternatives, though these also have their own disposal requirements and should not be put in plastic recycling.

Dispose in regular trash. Consider refusing straws when dining out.

• Use reusable metal, glass, or silicone straws
• Drink beverages without straws when possible
• Choose restaurants offering paper or compostable straws
• Support businesses that have eliminated plastic straws
• Use pasta straws or other edible alternatives for special occasions