What is more environmentally correct?

April 15, 2006 7:44 AM

The refrigerator died. We'll be getting rid of a lot of old bottles - which is environmentally preferable?

Okay, so the refrigerator died unexpectedly. We have a lot of bottles & jars of full things - dressings, etc. - that are going to have to be thrown away. Which is the better thing, environment-wise? Throw the stuff out in the glass & plastic containers, or empty them in the trash, or down the disposal, and use a lot of water cleaning out full bottles?

posted by clarkstonian to Society & Culture (3 answers total)

Pour/scoop out as much as possible, and throw in the recycling with not too much rinsing. Rinsing is to prevent the recycling waste from getting gross and smelly, not so much for the recycling process itself. If it's not too hot, and the waste is being picked up soon (and not standing out in boiling temperatures for days) you don't have too worry too much about rinsing.
posted by easternblot at 8:27 AM on April 15, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks - will do.
posted by clarkstonian at 12:01 PM on April 15, 2006

Yeah, just keep the lids/caps on so things don't get too smelly.
posted by moonshine at 2:44 PM on April 15, 2006