Build A Kinder Earth

Overwhelmed with plastics? Don't be! Recycling plastics is easier than once thought.

Do you often find yourself wanting to recycle but not knowing which types of plastic can be recycled? If so, you are not alone. There is a lot of confusion in regards to which plastics can be recycled and which cannot. However, recycling plastics does not have to be difficult, in fact, there is a simple trick to help you determine if a type of plastic can be recycled.

There exists a symbol code with a single digit ranging from 1 to 7 and surrounded by a triangle of arrows. This symbol was designed by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988 to allow consumers and recyclers to differentiate types of plastics while providing a uniform coding system. 39 U.S. states now require to be imprinted on all eight-ounce to five-gallon containers that can accept the mark.

1.
The easiest plastics to recycle are made polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and is classified as “1″. Examples include soda and water bottles, medicine containers, and many other common consumer product containers. Once recycled this plastic can be used for fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and life jackets, bean bags, rope, car bumpers, tennis ball felt, combs, cassette tapes, sails for boats, furniture and other plastic bottles.

2.
Number 2 is reserved for high-density polyethylene plastics such as heavier containers that hold laundry detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo and motor oil. Plastic labeled with the number 2 is often recycled into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope. Both plastics labeled 1and 2 are widely accepted at recycling centers.

3.
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly used in plastic pipes, shower curtains, medical tubing, vinyl dashboards, and even some baby bottle nipples is classified as number 3.

4.
Number 4 plastics include wrapping films, grocery and sandwich bags, and other containers made of low-density polyethylene.

5.
Number 5 plastics include polypropylene containers used in Tupperware, among other products.

Plastics classified as 3,4,or 5 are rarely accepted by recycling centers because they often cannot be recycled.

6.
Plastics numbered 6 are composed of polystyrene (Styrofoam) and include coffee cups, disposable cutlery, meat trays, packing “peanuts” and insulation. They are widely accepted because they can be reprocessed into many items, including cassette tapes and rigid foam insulation

7.
These are the most difficult to recycle and therefore are rarely collected or recycled. One option for this plastics is to return them to the product manufacturers to avoid contributing to the local waste stream, and to put the burden on the makers to recycle the items.