How2Recycle Releases New Guidelines for Use with Changes to Recyclability for Two Formats in the U.S.

Today, How2Recycle®, a project of GreenBlue, released its semi-annual Guidelines for Use, a guidance document instructing the program’s more than 800 members on proper use of North America’s most recognizable on-pack disposal instruction. The latest Guidelines include recyclability category changes for two packaging formats:

1. Upgrade to “Check Locally” for composite canisters with steel bottoms in the U.S. 

This format has moved from “Not Yet Recyclable” to “Check Locally” in the U.S and remains eligible for “Check Locally” labels in Canada.

2. Downgrade to “Check Locally” for aluminum and steel aerosol cans in the U.S.

This format has moved from “Widely Recyclable” to “Check Locally” in the U.S. and remains “Widely Recyclable” in Canada. 

How2Recycle labels range from “Widely Recyclable” to “Not Yet Recyclable,” with categories determined through our assessment of five recyclability pillars: applicable law, collection, sortation, technical reprocessability, and end markets. Based on our latest assessment, these two packaging formats will receive updated How2Recycle labels reflective of their new recyclability category. 

“We want to first commend our members on their ongoing work to improve material recyclability through design innovations, end market investments, and collaboration,” said How2Recycle Director Karen Hagerman. 

“We also empathize with the feeling of setback that comes with a downgrade,” she said. “Still, we trust that our members recognize the need for labels that reflect the realities of the recycling system today, and will use the change as an opportunity to invest in the design, infrastructure, partnerships, or end markets needed to improve recyclability.”

The above changes are effective as of January 31, 2025. How2Recycle members can find comprehensive instructions on updates in the full Guidelines for Use via their member portals. 

Four Packaging Formats Under Review

As part of our effort to provide as much runway as possible to members before official category changes, How2Recycle has outlined packaging formats whose recyclability designations are currently “under review.” When packaging is deemed “under review,” this means that our team has received and is reviewing data suggesting the potential need to upgrade or downgrade a material’s recyclability category. 

At this time, our assessment of current recycling conditions has informed the need for four packaging formats to be considered under review for potential downgrades:

1. Potential downgrade from “Check Locally” to “Not Yet Recyclable” for polypropylene single-use beverage pods (as used for coffee) in the U.S.

While How2Recycle commends the significant efforts made to strengthen the end markets for polypropylene single-use beverage pods (PP beverage pods), acceptance rate data demonstrates the need to place the format under review for a potential downgrade. 

As part of the review process for this format, How2Recycle will pause the issuance of “Check Locally” labels for new PP beverage pods requests, consider the findings of a months-long data review conducted by The Recycling Partnership to better understand acceptance for this packaging format, and share a final decision on this format’s recyclability category with members in our July 2025 Guidelines for Use.

2. Potential downgrade from “Widely Recyclable” for certain flexible PE formats in Canada.

PE formats for stand-up pouches, metallized film, wrappers, and some other food packaging may not be eligible for a “Widely Recyclable” label in Canada due to more restrictive acceptance practices for recycling based on package format and product application. However, formats such as grocery store, bread, and newspaper bags remain widely collected. Further research is underway in 2025.

3. Potential downgrade from “Widely Recyclable” for HDPE trays, thermoforms, and other formats in the U.S.

These formats may be downgraded from “Widely Recyclable” to “Check Locally” in the U.S. in light of new access data numbers demonstrating that only HDPE bottles, jars, and tubs may be eligible for the “Widely Recyclable” label.

4. Potential downgrade from “Check Locally” for bulky rigid plastics in the U.S.

These plastics, such as three-gallon buckets, could be downgraded from “Check Locally” to “Not Yet Recyclable” in the U.S. in light of new access data.

Updates on Packaging Formats Previously Under Review

How2Recycle also announced decisions for packaging formats that were previously under review. At this time, our assessment of the current recycling landscape has led us to the conclusions that there would be:

• No change to the “Not Yet Recyclable” designation for HDPE & polypropylene squeeze tubes in the U.S. Based on current data, these formats will not be upgraded.

• No change to the “Check Locally” designation for polypropylene beverage cups, PET beverage cups, and other formats in the U.S. After our review, these formats will not be upgraded to “Widely Recyclable.”

• No change to the “Widely Recyclable” designation for aseptic & gable top cartons in the U.S., determined by a data source separate from The Recycling Partnership’s National Recycling Database. 

The Data Informing New Recyclability Changes

Composite canisters with metal bottoms, specifically steel, have been upgraded from “Not Yet Recyclable” to “Check Locally” in the U.S. due to collection, sortation, and end market data provided by our members and third party partners. An additional source of acceptance data was used to substantiate this decision separate from the data provided by The Recycling Partnership.

Aluminum and steel aerosol cans have been downgraded from “Widely Recyclable” to “Check Locally” in the U.S. following our review of new collection data demonstrating that fewer communities explicitly accept aerosol containers for recycling. Currently, How2Recycle is considering only explicit acceptance for this format.