Recycling 101
Everyone knows recycling is vital for the health of our environment, but it’s not always clear what is and isn’t recyclable. Since 2021, H-E-B has partnered with nonprofit How2Recycle to make it easier for our customers to know how to recycle product packaging with How2Recycle’s innovative, easy-to-read labels. This enables consumers to recycle more and helps keep waste streams cleaner by reducing contaminants.
You’ll find How2Recycle labels on the packaging of over 3,700 H-E-B branded products, and thousands of national brand products. Keep reading to learn more about using How2Recycle labels to recycle correctly!
Reading a How2Recycle Label
Playlist
Flip to Learn
0:16How to Recycle
0:16How to find the How2Recycle label on products at your H-E-B.
On each How2Recycle product label, you’ll find:
- What kind of material the packaging is made from (i.e., plastic, paper, or metal) and what part of the packaging is being referenced (i.e., bottle, bag, can, or box).
- Recycling Tip: The lids and caps of many jars, jugs, and bottles are not recyclable.
- A recyclability icon that indicates if the packaging is widely recyclable, not recyclable, a store-drop off item, or if you should check with local recycling services/facilities to see if they will accept the item.
- Instructions for preparing the packaging components for recycling (i.e., empty & replace cap, rinse out a juice jug & discard the cap, or empty & discard the sprayer from a cleaning spray bottle).
- A link to how2recycle.info.
What Can & Can’t Be Recycled – and Where?
These items can be recycled at home, or at a recycling collection center. They will have a Widely Recyclable symbol on their How2Recycle label:
- Metal cans – rinsed, with their lids inserted
- Cardboard – clean, dry, and flattened/broken down
- Plastic bottles – empty & caps/lids back on
- Depending on where you live, some items may or may not be recyclable with curbside or municipal drop-off services. These will have a Check Locally symbol – check with your city’s recycling service or online databases, such as Earth911 or Keep America Beautiful, to see if it will be accepted
The following can be recycled, if clean & dry, in the Store Drop-Off bin at the front of your H-E-B store. They should have a Store Drop-Off symbol on their How2Recycle label:
- Retail plastic bags, such as H-E-B plastic grocery bags – empty of paper receipts
- Shrink wrap & overwrap films from paper goods – clean and dry
- Bread & produce plastic bags – clean & dry, empty of crumbs, etc.
An item that can’t yet be recycled in most areas, or contains a known contaminant to common recycling systems, will have a Not Recyclable symbol.
Got Hard-to-Recycle Items? Turn to TerraCycle!
For items that aren’t typically accepted by most recycling services, turn to TerraCycle! Some of the brands we sell in our stores, have partnered with TerraCycle to recycle many items that aren’t accepted by most services. And yes, it’s free for consumers to use! Some items you can send to TerraCycle include:
- All brands of razors, blades, and packaging
- All brands of home and air care trigger heads
- All brands of oral care packaging, including toothbrushes
- All brands of single-use drink pouches
- All brands of squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps
- All brands of beauty & skincare product packaging
For a full list of TerraCycle partner brands and items, from food packaging to children’s toys, browse TerraCycle’s collection program list.
What More Can I Do to Help the Environment?
- Refuse packaging when you can, such as choosing to not use produce bags or plastic bags.
- Reduce your use of single-use plastics like straws and water bottles.
- Reuse packaging when you can: Empty plastic food containers make great leftover containers for your fridge, for example.
- Recycle as much as possible, based on the recycling services available where you live.
Want more? Click to learn how H-E-B stores recycle & reduce waste.
