Sioux Falls Plastic Recycling Guide

The Yes List: In Detail

 

Recycling works—but only if we put the right things in the bin. Use this guide to know what plastics can and cannot be recycled in Sioux Falls.

YES List

YESPut In Your Recycling Bin


We only accept bottles, tubs, and jugs. These can be sorted, sold, and turned into new products.

BOTTLES (NARROW TOP, WIDER BOTTOM)

  • Water & soda bottles

  • Shampoo, lotion, & hand soap bottles (remove pumps)

  • Cleaning spray bottles (remove nozzle)

  • Condiment bottles (ketchup, salad dressing, etc.)

TUBS (SHORT, WIDE CONTAINERS)

  • Yogurt, margarine, sour cream, & whipped cream tubs
  • Deli meat & chip dip tubs

  • Ice cream tubs & peanut butter jars

  • Cat litter tubs

JUGS (HANDLES ATTACHED)

  • Milk jugs

  • Juice jugs

  • Detergent jugs


WHAT ABOUT LIDS? If the lid is plastic (not a pump or nozzle), put it back on when empty!

Still not sure? Ask Us!

No List

NO Recycle Separately or Place in Trash


These items cannot be recycled because they don’t fit the bottle, tub, or jug rule—or they cause problems in the recycling process.

  • Clamshell containers (fruit, berry, to-go containers) – Made from low-melt plastic that melts too fast and ruins other recyclables.
  • Styrofoam (cups, trays, packaging) – Too fragile, crumbles into tiny pieces, and is too lightweight to collect & process.
  • Plastic utensils, straws, & Red Solo cups – Too small be sorted in the automated process.
  • Plastic toys, frisbees, & swimming pools – Contain mixed plastics, dyes, and coatings that can’t be separated.
  • Plastic bags & wrappers – Tangle in machines, shutting down equipment and slowing the whole process, and no reuse market from “mixed” recycling sources (bring to a separated “clean” drop location instead!)
  • Plastic trays & lids from takeout – Often coated with food grease, low-melt, or made of mixed materials.
  • Compostable & bio-plastics – Designed to break down, not be recycled—they just contaminate real recyclables.
  • Any plastics not a Bottle, Tub or Jug (Still not sure? Ask Us!)

Why Does This Matter?

  • If you put these in your bin, they WILL end up in the landfill.
  • They create extra work for our team, who has to pull them out by hand, or downstream partners who can’t process them.
  • They make recycling more expensive when materials get downgraded due to contamination.

Recycling only works when the right materials are collected, processed, and reused. The more non-recyclables that sneak in, the harder and more costly it is to actually recycle the good stuff.

Want to help? Stick to bottles, tubs, and jugs ONLY. 

Why Can’t We Recycle Everything?

Many plastics don’t have a market. Recycling only works when companies are willing to reuse the material. If no one wants it, it goes to the landfill—no matter how much you wish it could be recycled.

Some plastics also mess up the sorting process because they are:

  • Too flimsy or thin – Plastic bags and shrink wrap tangle in sorting equipment.
  • Too small – Loose caps, straws, utensils, and tiny plastic pieces slip through machinery.
  • Too large – Containers over 5 gallons don’t fit the system and jam equipment.
  • Mixed materials – Items like chip bags and blister packs combine plastic with foil, wax, or paper, making them impossible to separate.
  • The wrong chemicals – Items like Red Solo cups, plastic plates, and most black plastics are made with additives that prevent them from being recycled.
  • Low melting points – Clamshells, Styrofoam and some thin plastics melt too quickly, contaminating other materials.

If plastic doesn’t meet recycling standards, it’s trash—NOT because we don’t want to recycle it, but because it won’t actually get turned into anything new.


Why We Don’t Sort by Number

The triangle with a number DOES NOT mean it’s recyclable! That symbol was created by manufacturers to identify plastic types—not to tell the public what to recycle.

Sioux Falls doesn’t sort by number because:

  • The same plastic type (#1-#7) can be totally different products—some recyclable, some not.
  • Many plastics have added dyes & chemicals that make them unrecyclable.
  • Following “bottles, tubs, and jugs” is easier and more effective.

Forget the number. Stick to bottles, tubs, and jugs.


What to Do with Non-Recyclables

If an item can’t go in your bin, here are some options: 

  • Reuse it – Durable plastic containers can be repurposed for storage.
  • Donate it – Toys, storage bins, & household plastics might be accepted by thrift stores.
  • Trash it – If there’s no reuse option, dispose of it properly.
  • Still not sure? Check our full recycling list here or ask us!

Not just for plastic! Check out everything you can put in your recycling bin here! If you don’t see what you’re looking for, ask us!

We’re happy to help you find the best disposal option in our area.