Plastic #4 (LDPE) Special Instructions Rigid #4 plastic containers such as bottles, jars, tubs and trays may be recyclable and belong under the blue lid of a split recycling cart or in a larger cart or bin labeled “Containers Only.” They must be empty and should be scraped and rinsed if possible. Lids can be left on. Removed lids belong in the garbage. #4 plastic items that are not a rigid container belong in the garbage. This includes tubes (like those in photo) and bags. 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. Help Prevent Litter Plastic #4 is a lightweight material that easily finds its way into the environment, where it can leach toxic chemicals. Dispose of it properly to prevent it from becoming litter. Did You Know? What Items Are Made From Plastic #4? Plastic #4 is used to make flexible plastics including plastic shopping bags, bread bags, dry cleaning bags, sandwich and snack bags, and squeezable bottles and tubes. What Plastic #4 Can Become Plastic #4 can be recycled into shipping envelopes, paneling, tiles, plastic lumber, trash can liners and trash cans.