Plastic #2 (HDPE) Recycling Bin Plastic #1 and plastic #2 can be placed in the curbside recycling bin, including rigid plastic bottles, such as laundry detergent bottles, milk jugs and plastic bottles. No Plastic Bags in Curbside Recycling Many plastic bags are labeled plastic #2 or #4, but they are too thin to recycle with hard plastics and will get caught in recycling machinery. Find out how to dispose of plastic bags. Clean Out Containers If a container once held food or liquid, it needs to be emptied, cleaned and dried as well as you can before recycling it. Containers with food, liquids and other residues can contaminate whole batches of recycling and end up in a landfill. Empty Motor Oil Containers are Hazardous Waste Even if an empty, cleaned motor oil container is marked as HDPE #2 plastic, it is still hazardous waste. Learn how to dispose of empty motor oil containers. Did You Know? What Plastic #2 Can Become Plastic #2 can be recycled into new plastic jugs, plastic lumber, patio furniture, flower pots, buckets, recycling bins, benches and fencing.