Omaha Recycling Guide
Plastic Straws
Not Accepted, Alternative Options Available
DO NOT place this item in a City of Omaha curbside recycling cart or drop-off site container.
Place plastic drinking straws in the garbage, or use an alternative option.
Where Else Could It Go?
Plastic straws and clear plastic cellophane sleeves can be placed in an orange Hefty® ReNew® bag. FirstStar Recycling offers a special program to collect hard-to-recycle plastics in our community. To participate, you can purchase orange Hefty® ReNew® bags, which will be collected through your existing curbside and drop-off site services. When filled with accepted materials and tied shut, the bright orange Hefty® ReNew® bag is the ONLY bag that can be placed in a curbside recycling cart or drop-off site container. Learn more about the local Hefty® ReNew® program:
Ways to Reduce or Reuse
Instead of single-use plastic straws, invest in a portable metal straw that can be washed and used again.
When ordering at a restaurant, skip the straw and drink straight from the cup, or use your own reusable straw instead.
Did You Know
Plastic straws are not easily recycled through traditional methods. Due to their small, lightweight size, they will fall through the mechanical recycling sorter and end up going to the landfill, or mix with other materials, which causes contamination of recyclables. Place plastic straws in the garbage, or alternatively, in an orange Hefty® ReNew® bag.