Decoding plastics recycling
Figuring out which types of plastic you can recycle is not easy. Just because a plastic bottle or tub has a "recycling symbol" on it doesn't necessarily mean you can throw it into your curbside bin.
The container's shape, color, and your location are also key factors in indicating whether that bottle or tub is destined for a recycling plant or the dump.
The little number with chasing arrows around it is actually called a "resin identification code." It indicates which type of resin is used to make a plastic. This symbol can be incredibly useful when it comes to figuring out what you can and can't recycle, but it doesn't tell you the whole story.
Different additives and manufacturing processes are used to mold plastics into varying shapes, which can change their characteristics enough so that they may not be able to be recycled together, explains Darby Hoover at the Natural Resources Defense Council. The EPA points out that many facilities sort materials by hand and group them by shape rather than by code.
The most commonly recycled types of plastic are Polyethylene terephthalate, PET (number 1), and high-density polyethylene, HDPE (number 2). Well over 80 percent of curbside programs only take number 1 and 2 bottles and jugs, says David Cornell, of the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers. The other types of plastic are less likely to be collected and recycled, although that is slowly changing and some cities, such as San Francisco, take all hard plastics.
So, what can you throw in your blue bin? Finding out your community's rules is the only way to know for sure. Visit your city's website or look for fact sheets on your local waste management authority's website. You can also search Earth 911's extensive database to find out your local recyling options.
Here's a quick guide to the plastics most of us can recycle at the curb:
- Bottle and jugs -- Container mouths need to be smaller than the sides. Water, soda, milk, juice, personal care product, shampoo, detergent, and household cleaner bottles are commonly made from PET or HDPE and are recycled in most curbside programs.
- Ketchup bottles are sometimes made of number 1, sometimes not. Cornell says about 96 percent of plastic bottles are made from PET or HDPE, so it's a safe bet that you can recycle most of your bottles.
- Yogurt cups
- Butter tubs
- Microwaveable trays
- Take-out containers
- Cutlery, plates, and cups
- Shopping bags (many grocery stores and other retailers take them back for recycling)
- Plastics made from corn and other agricultural products
Cornell points out that there should be more widespread recycling options for yogurt cups, butter tubs, and plastic trays within the next two years.
In the meantime, those who want to recycle number 5 plastics should check out Recycline's Preserve Gimme5 program. The company recycles clean plastic containers that have a #5 stamped on the bottom. Drop your stash off at participating Whole Foods Markets or mail it to the company. Recycled plastic is transformed into razors, bowls, and other colorful products.
Some other tips worth mentioning:
- Remove caps (you can bring your bottle caps into Aveda stores for recycling).
- Rinse out bottles that contain food.
- Step on bottles to flatten so trucks can fit more.
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.
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