Green Daily

How many gallons of water did you need to get the peanut butter off of the lower inside crevice of the jar? How long did you spray the top of your cat food tin before the slimy fat slid off?

If you were doing this in order to ensure that your recyclables were accepted and processed, you don't need to. If you were doing this because you are obsessive compulsive, concerned about mold, ants or vermin, keep at it!

Turns out the recycling process involves washing, and a few bits of tuna or jelly aren't going to lead to recyclable rejection. Recycling often involves washing and heating, so bits of food will get power washed or burnt away. I repeat: It is not critical to get your recyclables looking new. This is not a beauty contest.

That said, Slate's Green Lantern does suggest that you rinse all of your recyclables and use a narrow spatula to get the dried bits of crud out of the bottom of the jars and jugs and bottles. She also advises you to avoid putting recyclables in the dishwasher, and encourages people to use one bowl of water for all of your recyclable rinsing. No need to use clean water for these items.

If paper recyclable products get wet or greasy they immediately become unrecyclable, so do dump out your beer bottles if they'll be next to the paper and don't recycle your greasy pizza paper plates.

[via Slate]