DG ML, IF THIS IS A REAL QUESTION, DOES IT HAVE TO BE RINSED, OR CAN IT JUST GO IN THE RECYCLING, THE ANSWER IS: RINSING FIRST, IS JUST BETTER, IT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS RINSING AND WASHING OFF ALL DEBRIS FROM DISHES BEFORE YOU PUT THEM IN THE DISHWASHER! IT CLEANS THE DISHES BETTER, THE DISHWASHER LASTS LONGER, AND SO ON! :($!