Study shows majority of foodservice items in residential recycling stream are clean

The Foodservice Packaging Institute, the trade association for the foodservice packaging industry in North America, recently commissioned an audit on materials in the residential recycling stream. The audit determined whether levels of food residue on foodservice packaging (i.e., pizza boxes, paper and plastic cups, clamshells, and aluminum trays) differed from food residue levels on food contact packaging items (i.e., paper ice cream tubs, peanut butter jars, and food cans) that are traditionally included in recycling programs.

The study found that a vast majority of food contact and foodservice items in the recycling stream were rated as a level 1 (defined as clean packaging with no food residue) or a level 2 (defined as, clean packaging, with some crumbs or staining from oils).

“The Foodservice Packaging Institute seeks to increase the recovery of foodservice packaging in the residential stream,” said Natha Dempsey, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute. “The quality of the recycling stream is key to recovery efforts and the goals of material recovery facilities and end markets, who need clean materials for successful recycling. The audits help to provide additional information on what little difference there is between food contact and foodservice packaging items in the ability to process materials for recycling.”

A summary of the study methodology and findings is available for download, along with other resources at www.RecycleFSP.org.