Demystifying the Recycling of Plastics
Plastics, the wonder (or curse) of our modern age, are typically derived from natural gas or petroleum. They are resources that can mostly be recycled and not wasted into landfills. Unfortunately, in 2019, Waste Management reports that 122,205 tons of plastics were disposed of in landfills. That so much plastic goes into landfills rather than recycling makes it especially important that we understand what plastics can and cannot be recycled.
We’ve probably all noticed the "chasing arrows" at the bottom of many plastics, like the one shown here. The codes within the triangle, which number from 1 to 7, represent the resin identification code (RIC) that indicates the general type of chemical compound used in manufacturing the plastic product. Although there are only seven codes, there are actually thousands of different types of plastics.
Here is a quick breakdown of the seven codes:
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
|
Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE/PET) Lightweight and easy to recycle plastic. Uses: soft drink bottles, peanut butter jars, salad dressing bottles, plastic liquor bottles, mineral water containers, fruit juice containers, cooking oil containers Recycled into: egg cartons, containers, carpets, and more |
|
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Also can be recycled into many kinds of goods. Uses: milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, household cleaner bottles, motor oil bottles, juice bottles Recycled into: flowerpots, toys, traffic cones, trash cans |
|
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Not commonly recycled. Uses: everything from shower curtains to garden hoses Recycling: PVC is rarely recycled but it is accepted by some plastic lumber manufacturers. Nursery pots may be recyclable: call ahead to see if a nursery will accept them; if so, shake out the soil contents into your compost bin and return the empty pots to the nursery. |
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Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Not commonly recycled.by waste management services Uses: cellophane wrap, produce bags, disposable diaper liners, squeezable condiment bottles Recycling:These plastics are not accepted by curbside recycling. But some LDPE types (cellophane wrap, produce bags, plastic grocery and shopping bags, dry cleaner cellophane) are accepted for recycling by grocery stores |
|
Polypropylene (PP) Not commonly recycled. Uses: packaging pipes and tubes, medicine bottles, bottle caps and straws |
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Polystyrene (PS) Also known as styrofoam, it is recycled in some areas. Uses: hot beverage cups, take-out food containers and packaging peanuts Recycled into: similar products like plastic wood, insulation, and hard plastic pens |
|
Other Designates a miscellaneous category for all other plastic resins like acrylic or nylon. Uses: bottles, headlight lenses, safety shields |
What makes recycling confusing, though, is that different cities and towns, and different waste management services, accept different types of plastic for recycling. You can do a web search for 'which plastic codes does my recycling center accept.' The following are the plastics that King County Waste Management will accept in your curbside recycling bin:
- Plastic jugs with a neck (milk, juice and soda)
- Plastic bottles with a neck (beverage, fabric softener, detergent and window, bathroom and kitchen cleaners)
- Round plastic dairy tubs (yogurt, dairy, butter or margarine)
All containers should be rinsed and should not include caps or lids.
Three Plastic Numbers That You Should Avoid are 3, 6 and 7!
These plastics are used in many everyday household products and often contain high levels of Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a compound used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is among the highest production volume chemicals, with over 8 billion pounds manufactured every year. BPA is a chemical that poses high health risks to consumers, according to a 2010 study published in the National Institute of Health’s Environmental Health Perspectives. BPA is considered to be a hormone-disrupting chemical that is linked to autism, birth defects, reproductive problems, breast cancer, and other health issues. You want to avoid using these plastic products so that you do not ingest harmful chemicals along with your food and drink.
What is most alarming is that many products for babies and small children are made from these harmful plastic types. These include sippy cups and baby bottles. BPA is also found in the epoxy lining of metal containers, including soup cans and drinking bottles.