Let's Talk Plastic Cups

August 22, 2026

"#1, #2, and #5 bottles, jugs, and tubs" is the rule (we hope) you've been learning for which plastics to recycle in your curbside bin. This means #1 bottles, #2 jugs, and #5 tubs (not any other combination of those numbers and words).

That's a pretty complete list, but there's actually one more category of plastic you can put in your curbside bin if you're careful: #5 plastic cups.

We suspect Shawnee County underemphasizes this one because there are several ways people can get it wrong. Here's what to know to make sure you're doing it right:

Make sure the cup is a soft, clear plastic cup labeled with a #5. If it has a different number on it (or no number on it), do not recycle it in your curbside bin. Even if it looks exactly like a #5 plastic cup! If it has a #1 or any other number on it: don't put it in the bin. Throw it away or bring it to Full Circle to recycle.
If it is a hard plastic reusable cup, even if it has a number on it, do not recycle it in your curbside bin. Donate it to a thrift store, sell it at a garage sale, or bring it to us to TerraCycle.
If the lid is the same type of plastic as the cup (#5), leave it on and recycle them together. If the lid is a different type of plastic, throw it away or bring it to us to TerraCycle. Do not put lids loose in the bin. They run the risk of not being recycled either because they fall through the cracks in the recycling machinery or because they are incorrectly sorted out with other flat objects, like cardboard and paper.
Take out the straw! It's not a type of plastic that can be recycled through standard recycling channels. Throw it away, or bring it to us to TerraCycle.
Make sure the cup is not wet or sticky. Everything you recycle should be rinsed clean and completely dry.

And that's it! #5 plastic cups. Rinsed clean. No straw. No lid if the lid is a different type of plastic.

If you'd like to hear this (and more recycling information) straight from the Director of Shawnee County Solid Waste, the video below is a good source of information on curbside recycling. (The section on plastics starts at 1:12, with #5 plastic starting at 1:49.) You can also view the Full Circle Recycling Guide for answers to your other sustainable-disposal questions. Or send us an email if you have a question about something we haven't covered, and we will do our best to get you an answer!