WESTPORT — It’s widely misunderstood, but black plastic containers used for prepared or takeout foods are not recyclable.

That’s because the black pigment cannot be “seen” by optical scanners in recyclable-sorting facilities, and will contaminate other recyclable materials if baled together. The material also has a higher level of toxins.

In fact, state officials last year removed black plastic from the list of materials acceptable for the recycling stream.

So other than tossing black plastic containers into the trash, are there more sustainable options?

In Westport, at least, there is.

A program to collect black plastic containers and reuse them to distribute food to people in need is being organized by the Westport Farmers Market, Sustainable Westport and Food Share CT.

Black plastic containers with lids, washed and clean, can be dropped off Thursdays, Dec. 22 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the farmers market winter quarters at Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center, 7 Sylvan Lane.

The collected containers will be used by Fridgeport Outdoor Food Pantry in Bridgeport to repackage large trays of donated foods into smaller portions, which will be given to people facing food insecurity.

“Sustainable Westport continues to educate our community on ways to help the environment. We at WFM really likes working with them and this initiative seemed only fitting to rescue food and plastic,” Lori Cochran-Dougall, the farmers market executive director, said in a statement announcing the container collection.

“Ultimately, we would prefer these containers being banned or not used by choice, but for now we will look for solutions to repurpose.”