Most loose plastic straws do not belong in curbside recycling. Check your local accepted-items list, but trash is the usual household route when no special program accepts them.
Check the Local Rule Before Recycling
A recycling symbol or resin number does not guarantee that your local facility accepts a plastic item.
EPA advises checking with your local provider, especially for plastic products other than bottles.
Plastic straws are small and light. They can fall through sorting equipment or be screened out even when their resin is accepted in a larger container shape.
Washington, DC, offers one local example. Its recycling guidance identifies plastic straws as too small for capture in the District’s ordinary system.
Use Household Trash When No Program Accepts Them
Place loose straws in a tied trash bag so they do not become litter. Keep them out of storm drains, streets, beaches, and waterways.
Do not bundle straws inside a plastic bottle for curbside recycling unless your local program expressly instructs you to do that.
Do not put plastic straws in a compost bin. Ordinary petroleum-based plastic does not become compostable because it is small.
Treat Paper and Compostable Straws Carefully
A used paper straw is usually wet and food-soiled, which makes it unsuitable for paper recycling.
Some organics programs accept paper or certified compostable food-service items. Others reject them, so check the program’s exact list and certification requirement.
If the program does not accept the straw, put it in trash. Do not rely on a green color or the word biodegradable alone.
Reuse Is Rarely a Good Disposal Plan
Saving used disposable straws for crafts delays disposal and may create a cleaning problem. Reuse only clean, sound items for a specific project you already plan to make.
Do not donate a loose collection unless the recipient has asked for it.
Choose an Alternative That Fits You
Using no straw creates the least cleanup when that works for you. A washable cup lid or reusable straw may suit repeated use.
Choose around your needs. Flexibility, temperature, breakage, cleaning, and portability matter, and some people need a flexible disposable straw.
Follow the reusable product’s cleaning and replacement instructions. A reusable straw only helps if you can use and clean it safely.
For another small disposable item, see whether plastic utensils are recyclable.