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See what’s on the menu for this little cart!
Every day I get to do the two things I love most: helping people recycle and eating! It’s a total win-win. Help a cart out here — feed me more!
Learn what I can eat below!
Can Loop eat that?
Yes!
Yes!
These are materials I just can’t get enough of. Household items like cardboard boxes, metal cans, paper envelopes and plastic jugs and bottles are my favorites! Don’t see your item listed? Search Recycle Coach or contact your community for more information on it.
Just keep any containers empty and free of plastic bags — leftover food and flexible plastics are Not for Loop!
Glass
- Empty glass food jars
- Empty beverage bottles
Cardboard
- Flattened shipping boxes
- Toilet paper rolls
- Paperboard boxes
- Empty pizza boxes
- Cartons
Plastic
- Laundry detergent jugs
- Bottles (lids on)
- Yogurt containers
Metal
- Soda cans
- Metal cans
- Aluminum foil without food
Paper
- Envelopes & junk mail
- Office paper
- Magazines & newspapers
What Loop can eat, by material
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Glass
- Empty glass food jars
- Empty beverage bottles
The best part about feeding Loop your glass recyclables? They can be recycled over and over and over again!
Did you know?
Recycled glass is critical to the creation of new glass bottles and jars, which can include over 95% recycled content. Fiberglass can also be made using recycled glass
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Cardboard
- Flattened shipping boxes
- Toilet paper rolls
- Paperboard boxes
- Empty pizza boxes
- Cartons
Loop loves eating your cardboard recyclables. And with expanding curbside access, it’s easier than ever to recycle cardboard at home.
Fun facts about this snack!
- Your pizza box is widely accepted in residential programs. (Skip the grease and crumbs — they don’t agree with Loop’s stomach.)
- In 2024, the cardboard recycling rate was at 69%–74%, meaning more than 33 million tons of cardboard were given to Loop.
- Recycled cardboard gets used to create MORE cardboard, chipboard, mulch, furniture and more.
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Metal
- Soda cans
- Metal cans
- Aluminum foil without food
Since metal is endlessly recyclable, feeding Loop this favorite has a big, positive impact on the environment and economy.
Fun facts about this snack!
- Nearly 97% of recycled aluminum cans are made into new cans, making up 43% of recycled beverage containers.
- Feeding Loop an aluminum can saves 95% of the energy needed to make a new can from new aluminum.
- Food cans made from recycled steel use 78% less energy and produce fewer emissions compared with steel cans made from new materials or resources.
- Recycled metal gets used to create MORE CANS, aluminum foil, airplane parts and more.
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Paper
- Envelopes & junk mail
- Office paper
- Magazines & newspapers
Recycled paper gets used to create MORE paper, tissues, napkins, cardboard, fast-food bags and so much more. With the paper recycling process, more than two-thirds of all paper in the U.S. gets turned into something new. And that process all starts with you!
Did you know?
In 2024 alone, the paper recycling rate was 60%–64% — or 46 million tons of paper!
Most paper can be given to Loop, but paper recyclables that hold sensitive information should be shredded and thrown away. (Shredded paper gives Loop a stomachache).
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Plastic
- Laundry detergent jugs
- Bottles (lids on)
- Yogurt containers
Your recycling is part of an important process!
Fun facts about this snack!
- In 2022 alone, the U.S. recycled 5 billion pounds of plastic, which saved enough energy to power 1 million homes for a year!
- The combined recycling of the United States saves nearly 340 trucks of plastic a day from landfills.
- Recycled plastic gets turned into MORE plastic bottles, toothbrushes, shoes, packaging and so much more.
My favorite snacks are often recycled into new items!
Recycled paper
Tissues, napkins, cardboard, fast-food bags and so much more.
Recycled cans
MORE CANS, aluminum foil, airplane parts and more.
Recycled cardboard
Mulch, furniture, chipboard and more.
Recycled plastic
Plastic bottles, shoes, toothbrushes, packaging and so much more.
Maybe!
Maybe!
I eat recyclables like Styrofoam, shredded paper and juice cartons only if I’m in the right place. That makes it extra important to check with Recycle Coach whether these items should be on your menu!
Juice carton
Aerosol can
Paper cup
Pizza box
No!
No!
I’m a total foodie, but I know my limits with things like:
- Plastic bags and other flexible plastics
Flexible plastics such as plastic film or bubble wrap get stuck in my teeth. Return plastic bags and other polyethylene films to a retailer, instead. - Hoses, cords, hangers, string lights, etc.
No thank you! You may be able to take some tanglers to collection events. Otherwise, they go in the trash. - Styrofoam
Styrofoam, or polystyrene foam, leaves bubbles in my stomach. Look for special drop-off locations with Recycle Coach. - Shredded paper
This is not my taste — go ahead and give it to your trash, instead or check Recycle Coach for local drop offs. - Food, animal waste & hygiene products
Ew! Trash ONLY.
When it comes to materials I can’t eat, like batteries and hazardous waste, check out Not for Loop or Recycle Coach for recycling options!