Rinsing recyclables

Many of us have wondered about rinsing recyclable containers before putting them in the bin.  Does it take more energy than is saved by recycling?  Is it necessary?  I found a webpage that gives answers.  The short answer is that a quick rinse to get the gooey food off is a good idea. This keeps vermin away from the recycled materials until they are processed and keeps the food from ruining co-mingled materials such as paper.  There’s a link at the bottom of this post with a bit more information.  Some things to remember about recycling:

• You don’t need to get the bottles, cans, and jars completely clean, because they are washed at the recycling center.  
• A quick rinse is enough.  Try putting a little water in the container and then swishing it around or using your hand to scrub the inside.  That way you only use a little water.  
• We sometimes swish oily or greasy recyclables in the dirty dishwater at the end of a washing session, so no extra water or soap are used.
• Don’t leave a lot of grease or food on the recyclable containers because it can contaminate other materials such as paper and prevent them from being recycled.
• Check the recycling rules for your location to make sure you understand what can be accepted.​

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-rinse-your-recyclables-without-wasting-water-1826764672