Empty, Clean and Dry... Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Published on December 16, 2025

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Empty, Clean and Dry...

Like that advertising jingle you can’t get out of your head, recyclers often repeat the familiar phrase: “empty, clean and dry.” But how clean is clean, exactly — and why does it matter?

Let’s break it down.

Why It Matters

Making sure items are empty, clean and dry before putting them in your Big Green Recycling Cart helps cut down on contamination. As we've noted before, “contamination” refers to items not accepted in the City’s recycling program.But, contamination can also include recyclables that still contain food or liquid — from half-full soda bottles to peanut butter jars that are ooey-gooey inside. Such items have to be pulled from the sorting stream and sent to the landfill. They can also cause otherwise good recyclables to be tossed out, too.

Understanding the Process

While sorting starts with workers, most of it happens by machine. Optical scanners that identify plastics can’t read through liquids, so a bottle with leftover liquid or one that is crushed can end up as trash. Likewise, food or drink residue can spill out during transport or sorting and can ruin clean recyclables (e.g., soaking wet cardboard and paper), meaning they end up as trash.

Items don’t have to be spotless — just mostly clean and definitely dry. Clean, dry materials keep the recycling facility running safely and efficiently and ensure more items actually get turned into new products -- meaning your recycling efforts don't go to waste.

So... how clean is clean?

You don’t need to scrub containers until they shine. Just remove liquids and most residue. To better understand, check out the following scenarios:

  • Clear liquids (e.g., water, soda, beer, household cleaners): Pour out the extra and let the container dry.
  • Milk jugs, broth cartons, etc.: Give them a quick rinse and pour to reduce odor, mold and bacteria.
  • Thicker foods (e .g., sour cream, canned chili, margarine, pet food): These need a more thorough cleaning. If it feels like too much work, it’s better to toss them in your Big Blue cart.

Recycling Reminder: QUALITY beats QUANTITY every time. 

Preparing your recyclables takes only a few seconds, but it makes a big impact in improving the quality of Oklahoma City’s recycling stream, reducing landfill waste and supporting a healthier environment.

By keeping items empty, clean and dry, you’re helping recycling work — one cart at a time.

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