Clear plastic clamshells containers
Recycle your #1 PET clear plastic clamshells into new plastics!
Why use Ridwell?
We work directly with PET recyclers who specialize in clamshell containers. By collecting directly from our members, we can avoid any contamination that may occur in a mixed recycling bin, and ensure that your clamshells get a new life.
Your clamshells and trays are washed, reprocessed, and turned into post-consumer resin to be used again in new plastics. This process leaves a minimal carbon footprint and helps create a circular world by turning recycled clamshells into other plastics over and over, instead of winding up in our landfills, or worse... in the oceans, lakes, and rivers!
How it works
1
Collect your clear #1 PET plastic
Use the blue bag provided by Ridwell to collect your clear #1 PET plastic between pickups.
2
Get your clamshells ready for pickup
Plastic Plus and Unlimited members: Go ahead and leave your blue bag of clamshells by your bin for pickup!
Classic members: Add clamshells to your pickup from your member dashboard for a small add-on fee, then leave your blue bag by your bin for pickup.
What items can we take?
We can take clear plastic clamshell packaging made from #1 PET/PETE plastic.
#1 PET deli containers
Clear plastic only, labels okay
#1 PET fruit and berry containers
Clear plastic only, labels okay
#1 PET egg cartons
Clear plastic only, labels okay
#1 PET salad containers
Clear plastic only, labels okay
#1 PET clear takeout containers
Clear plastic only, labels okay
#1 PET plastic cookie trays
Clear plastic only
#1 PET plastic herb containers
Clear plastic only, labels okay
What isn’t in this category?
We can't take any colored or non-PET plastic clamshell containers.
Plastic bottles
These can go in your recycling bin
Blister packaging
Blister packs
Hard semi-flexible packaging around things like batteries and electronics.
Colored plastic
Non-clear containers
#5 hard plastics
#6 hard plastic
Clear plastic clamshells containers.
From grocery stores to farmers' markets, it's hard to avoid these clear plastic clamshells - they’re everywhere! Made from PET, these plastic packages often can't be recycled because they get contaminated either with food or during the single stream the recycling process.
Partnering with Recology
Recology collects and recovers recyclable materials such as paper, metals, organics and plastics. Clamshells collected by Ridwell are merged with other materials and sorted at Recology’s Seattle material recovery facility. Your clamshells will be grouped with other like-plastics where they will be recycled and made into new plastic products.
Clamshells are a tricky and costly material to collect, separate and sort. Many of our members live in areas with curbside recycling collection programs that are not capable of recycling clamshells, and Ridwell helps those members get their clamshells to a Recology facility that can effectively separate and sort these materials.
Partnering with Merlin Plastics
Merlin Plastics, a circular economy-focused plastic recycler servicing the U.S. and Canada, gives used plastic a new life, providing an alternative to virgin resin to be used by plastic manufacturers. Used plastics, like your plastic items collected by Ridwell, are shredded, washed, and pelletized into a post-consumer resin (PCR) at Merlin. Ultimately, PCR is used to make various commercial and industrial products like nursery planting pots, piping, and more. Merlin is committed to circularizing discarded packaging in an environmentally sound, economically efficient, and socially responsible fashion.
FAQ
Can I put clamshells in my plastic film bag?
Please keep clamshell containers and plastic film separate! These materials go to different partners and if co-mingled, can lead to contamination.
What if I need more than one clamshell bag?
Just let us know by email help@ridwell.com! We’re happy to drop off additional bags as-needed, or you can use any bag size up to 13 gallons that you have at home.
How clean do the containers need to be?
We ask that all containers be thoroughly rinsed, free of debris and absorbent pads, and dry before you bag them up for us.
Do labels and stickers need to be removed from the containers?
No, labels and stickers do not need to be removed - we hope this saves time and energy for our members and makes it easier to recycle these with us!
Can you take other hard plastics, or just clamshells?
Ridwell helps recycle clear #1 PET plastic items that aren't accepted in your curbside recycling program. Check your city's recycling guide for what clear #1 PET items your city curbside program includes.
Why do the containers need to be clear?
The clamshells need to be clear because our partner cannot extract the dyes from the plastic. Adding other colors into the mix would result in yellowish or discolored sheets of plastic, and there sadly is no end market/ability to make new use of that currently.
Where is clear plastic clamshell pickup available?
Clear plastic clamshells are currently only available in limited Ridwell service areas. Visit our clamshell service area FAQ post to see where this service is currently available.
Join the movement to build a future without waste.
