Plastic Lids Trash Plastic lids are often too small to be recycled, please place them in the trash container. Athens Services recycles plastics #1 PET bottles and clamshells, #2 HDPE, and #5 PP. To identify your products’ plastic type, look for the resin number inside the chasing arrows, usually located on the bottom of the item. The recycling symbol does not indicate if the product is recyclable or not. Ways to Reduce Bring Your Own Cup Carry a travel mug or water bottle instead of using disposable coffee cups or plastic cups. Ways to Reuse Repurpose Plastic Lids Plastic lids can be repurposed as soap trays, party coasters and more. Check out this list for inspiration.