Sometimes it seems like everything in modern America is fabricated of plastic. The versatile material is in our cars, toys, packaging, clothing, dwelling house goods, nutrient utensils and so much more — only information technology'due south also littering our streets, clogging our waterways and choking marine life. In fact, a recent report says that about 8 one thousand thousand tons of plastic packaging end upwards in our oceans every yr.
Many plastics can be recycled in theory, simply according to the UN, just about 9% of plastic waste generated has ever even been recycled. With all the different rules and symbols, it tin be confusing for consumers to figure out exactly what each plastic recycling symbol means and how to recycle it. While the universal plastic resin symbol (three chasing arrows forming a triangle) remains the aforementioned, the numbers i through 7 inside make a significant difference. FYI: Just because a production has the chasing arrows symbol, doesn't mean it's recyclable — information technology's just an indicator of the type of plastic
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our team is passionate nigh sustainability and the environment. From helping you decode eco-friendly claims to sharing the winners of our Sustainable Innovation Awards, we're here to assist you lot make smarter decisions for your abode and the environment. Here, our environmental experts share what each plastic recycling symbol ways, plus examples of where each symbol is constitute and how to recycle it.
How to know what plastics can be recycled
Every town and city has different recycling programs, then you'll often have to check your location'southward rules to detect out exactly what you tin recycle. Plus, "there are times when your recycling program may change what information technology collects," says Mike Brown of Brown and Wilmanns Ecology, one of Skillful Housekeeping'due south environmental consultants. Fifty-fifty if in that location isn't a way for your town to recycle a sure material, he says there's still a run a risk they might collect information technology anyways and either shop it or dispose of it. Of course, the symbols themselves need explaining, likewise. Let's break them down:
1Plastic Recycling Symbol #1: PET or PETE
PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) is the almost common plastic for single-use bottled beverages because it'south inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses a low risk of leaching breakdown products. Its recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), even though the material is in high demand by manufacturers.
Institute in: Soft drinks, h2o, ketchup and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers
How to recycle it: PET or PETE can be picked upwards through nigh curbside recycling programs as long as it'due south been emptied and rinsed of any food. When it comes to caps, our environmental pros say it'southward probably better to dispose of them in the trash (since they're usually made of a dissimilar type of plastic), unless your town explicitly says you can throw them in the recycle bin. At that place's no need to remove bottle labels because the recycling process separates them.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, bottles and food containers (equally long every bit the plastic being recycled meets purity standards and doesn't take hazardous contaminants)
twoPlastic Recycling Symbol #two: HDPE
HDPE (high density polyethylene) is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially when it comes to packaging. It carries low run a risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many types of goods.
Plant in: Milk jugs; juice bottles; bleach, detergent and other household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
How to recycle it: HDPE can often be picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow but containers with necks. Flimsy plastics (like grocery numberless and plastic wrap) usually can't be recycled, only some stores volition collect and recycle them.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and V (vinyl) is tough and weathers well, so information technology's commonly used for things like piping and siding. PVC is also cheap, and so it's found in plenty of products and packaging. Because chlorine is part of PVC, it can result in the release of highly dangerous dioxins during manufacturing. Call back to never burn PVC, considering information technology releases toxins.
How to recycle it: PVC and 5 can rarely be recycled, but it's accepted by some plastic lumber makers. If you need to dispose of either fabric, inquire your local waste management to run across if you should put it in the trash or drib it off at a collection center.
LDPE (depression density polyethylene) is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically, information technology hasn't been accustomed through well-nigh American recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to take information technology.
Found in: Squeezable bottles; staff of life, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; furniture
How to recycle information technology: LDPE is not oftentimes recycled through curbside programs, merely some communities might accept information technology. That means annihilation made with LDPE (like toothpaste tubes) tin can be thrown in the trash. Just like we mentioned under HDPE, plastic shopping bags tin can often exist returned to stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, flooring tile
5Plastic Recycling Symbols #5: PP
PP (polypropylene) has a high melting point, and so it's often chosen for containers that will hold hot liquid. It'south gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup and medicine bottles, caps, straws
How to recycle information technology: PP can exist recycled through some curbside programs, but don't forget to make sure at that place's no food left inside. It'due south best to throw loose caps into the garbage since they easily sideslip through screens during recycling and end up equally trash anyways.
PS (polystyrene) can be made into rigid or foam products — in the latter case, it is popularly known every bit the trademark Styrofoam. Styrene monomer (a blazon of molecule) tin leach into foods and is a possible human carcinogen, while styrene oxide is classified every bit a probable carcinogen. The fabric was long on environmentalists' striking lists for dispersing widely across the mural, and for beingness notoriously hard to recycle. Most places notwithstanding don't accept information technology in cream forms because it'due south 98% air.
Found in: Dispensable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, deport-out containers, aspirin bottles, meaty disc cases
How to recycle it: Not many curbside recycling programs have PS in the form of rigid plastics (and many manufacturers have switched to using PET instead). Since cream products tend to suspension apart into smaller pieces, y'all should place them in a purse, squeeze out the air and tie information technology up before putting it in the trash to prevent pellets from dispersing.
A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into this one. Polycarbonate is number seven plastic, and it's the clear hard plastic that has worried parents later on studies have shown BPA, one of its building blocks, is a hormone disruptor. PLA (polylactic acrid), which is made from plants and is carbon neutral, also falls into this category
Plant in: Iii- and five-gallon water bottles, bullet-proof materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, sure food containers, nylon
How to recycle it: These other plastics are traditionally not recycled, so don't expect your local provider to take them. The best option is to consult your municipality'southward website for specific instructions.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber and custom-made products
Amina Lake Abdelrahman, Good Housekeeping InstituteEditorial BananaAmina is an editorial banana at the Good Housekeeping Plant, where she works with lab experts (who test all the latest products) and writes original content based on their recommendations.
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