[An.American.Expatriate]

The only time I’ve heard of people washing packaging material for recycling was in satire (making fun of the over-the-topness of the whole concept). In the real world, not so much. (Though it’s probably true that a few nutty individuals would do that.)

Oh ita quite true - in fact it is even required and you can be fined if caught disposing of unwashed trash in the yellow bags / containers.

[Moltke]

Hmmm, looks like I’m out-voted 3:1.

(But I still find it hard to believe. Any organic matter left in/on the packaging should be easily dealt with at the recycling plant, IMO. Especially if the stuff is incinerated anyway.)