Takeout Containers (Aluminum) Recycling Clean Out Before Recycling Aluminum containers should be emptied out before they are put in the recycling. Food and other items such as condiment packages and utensils are considered contaminants. What about the lid?Coverings that are 100% tin foil and are free of food, can be placed in the recycling container. Most lids are made from a combination of paper, plastic, and/or foil and should be placed in the trash. Ways to Reduce Bring Your Own To-Go Container When dining out, bring a reusable to-go container so that you can bring leftovers home sustainably. Reusable Packaging For Businesses Check out Upstream’s catalog of reusable packaging and unpackaging innovators that provide ways for consumers to obtain products, mostly food and beverages, in returnable, reusable, or refillable packaging – or they deliver products to consumers unpackaged altogether. Ways to Reuse Wash and Reuse Avoid throwing away aluminum containers after one use. Wash and reuse them for cooking, baking and storing leftovers as much as you can. Repurpose Aluminum Containers Aluminum containers can be repurposed to store crafting materials or garage items. They can also be used as a tray or saucer to catch water from household plants. Did You Know? The Preferred Takeout Container Out of all the types of takeout containers — aluminum, cardboard, wax-lined paperboard, plastic and foam — aluminum is the easiest for recycling plants to recycle, while foam is the most difficult.