Fabric Softener (cap and bottle with different recycling codes)

Question:

This bottle of fabric softener has a recycling triangle with the #2, and its cap has a recycling triangle with the #5. I know 3-1-1 has told me the following things: 1) all plastics numbered 1, 2, 5, and 6 can be recycled curbside and 2) keeping caps on plastic bottles is preferred because it helps WM's sorting machines during the recycling process. However, if the bottle and the cap have different recycling numbers, should I keep the cap on the bottle to help keep the recycling item's shape or should I remove it because they are different plastics?

City of Elgin’s Answer:

[Recycling code] #6 is not part of the curbside program, but 1, 2, 4, and 5 are.  The cap can be placed back on even though it’s a different commodity number.

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You are invited to participate in The Elgin Watchman’s “To Recycle Or Not To Recycle?” community project for 2024 Elgin Earth Month. It is easy to do, and only takes you a few minutes. Everything is explained in our inaugural blog post. CLICK HERE to learn how.