Chloe Zhang
The act of recycling plastic is a highly debated topic. While most plastic is technically recyclable, the current process is energy-intensive, pollutant, and often more expensive than using new plastic. Additionally, the success of recycling heavily depends on the local programs available. It is always best to check with your local recycling center to see what types of plastic they accept. Some common plastics that are generally safe to recycle are milk jugs, soda bottles, and other `No. 1 and No. 2 bottles and jugs. However, it is important to avoid putting plastic bags, plastic wrap, and food-contaminated items in the recycling bin, as they can cause contamination.
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic bags and plastic films are not accepted in recycling bins
- Check local programs to confirm what plastic is recyclable in your area
- Plastic resins with SPI codes 1, 2, and 5 are accepted in some areas
- Plastic utensils, cups, lids, and food wrappers are not recyclable
- Most plastic is recyclable, but the process is energy-intensive and costly
Plastic bags and plastic films are not accepted in recycling bins
Plastic bags and plastic films should not be placed in recycling bins. Plastic bags are the primary source of contamination in the recycling stream. They clog the machinery used to process other materials, causing operational problems, facility shutdowns, and safety hazards for employees. These lightweight plastic materials are also prone to becoming airborne litter, creating severe environmental hazards.
However, this does not mean that plastic bags and films cannot be recycled at all. Many large retailers and drop-off centres accept plastic film packaging for recycling. These retailers collect plastic film packaging from consumers and back-haul it to multiple businesses that recycle it into new products. One of the largest recyclers of plastic bags and films is Trex, a local manufacturer in Virginia that recycles these materials into high-performance wood-alternative decking and railing.
To properly recycle plastic bags and films, it is important to ensure that they are clean and dry before dropping them into the store recycling bin. This is because recyclers want materials that they can process and sell. Food, liquids, and other items that cannot be recycled at their centre are not wanted.
Additionally, it is important to separate plastic bags and films from other recyclables. Instead of placing recyclables into a plastic bag and then into the recycling bin, keep all items loose in the bin. This is because plastic bags can gum up the works, and most recyclers prefer that all recyclables are placed directly into the bin.
It is always a good idea to check local programs to confirm what is recyclable in your area, as different municipalities have varying acceptance policies for plastic bags and films.
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Check local programs to confirm what plastic is recyclable in your area
It is important to check with local programs and your local recycling center to confirm what plastic is recyclable in your area. Recycling programs vary from community to community, and your local community's website is often the best place to find information on your specific program. For instance, plastic grocery bags are notoriously hard to recycle and can only be recycled by bringing them back to the store. Similarly, LDPE, which is used in shrink wrap, dry cleaning bags, and bread and frozen food wrappers, cannot be recycled in curbside recycling bins, but some grocery stores will take LDPE packaging in their HDPE recycling program.
Additionally, biodegradable plastics can only be composted in an industrial composting recycling facility, so contact your local composting center for more information on how to dispose of these plastics properly. While most plastic is technically recyclable, the process is often costly and energy-intensive, and the recycled plastic may not meet the definition of recyclable used by initiatives like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastic Economy (EMF NPE).
To ensure you are recycling correctly, check the labels on plastic items, which will often indicate whether they can be recycled and whether they need to be dropped off at a specific location or can be left in a curbside bin. It is also important to make sure that any plastic items that have come into contact with food are clean and dry before being placed in the recycling bin.
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Plastic resins with SPI codes 1, 2, and 5 are accepted in some areas
The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) introduced the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system in 1988 to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics. The RIC system uses symbols and numbers to identify the type of plastic resin used in a product, which helps recycling facilities sort and separate items for recycling. While the original SPI code included arrows that formed a triangle around a number, the symbol was later changed to a solid triangle enclosing the number.
Plastic resins with SPI codes 1, 2, and 5 are accepted for recycling in some areas. Code 1, or PET/PETE, is one of the most widely recycled plastic resins and is often found in beverage bottles, cups, and food trays. It can generally be recycled through standard curbside recycling programs. Code 2, or HDPE, is commonly used in plastic grocery bags, drink bottles like milk jugs, and non-food containers like shampoo bottles. While plastic bags are typically not accepted in curbside recycling, other HDPE products usually are. Code 5, or PP, is used in bottle caps and stadium cups, and while it is less frequently accepted for recycling, some municipalities do include it in their curbside recycling programs.
It is important to note that recycling programs vary by location, so it is always advisable to check with local recycling centers or refer to local guidelines to confirm which specific plastic resins are accepted in your area. Additionally, certain plastics, such as PVC and LDPE, are challenging to recycle and may not be accepted by most municipal recycling programs.
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Plastic utensils, cups, lids, and food wrappers are not recyclable
Plastic utensils, cups, lids, and food wrappers are not always recyclable and it is important to check with your local recycling center to see what types of plastic they accept. Generally, plastic utensils, cups, and lids are not recyclable due to their small size, which makes it difficult for recycling machinery to handle them. Most plastic lids are made from polystyrene, a type of plastic that is not recyclable. However, some lids are made from PET or PLA, with PET being widely accepted for recycling. Plastic cups, on the other hand, are usually made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is also not recyclable.
Plastic food wrappers are also typically not recyclable, especially those made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film, which is commonly used for bread and frozen food wrappers. Plastic grocery bags fall under this category and are notoriously challenging to recycle. They can only be recycled by bringing them back to the store or a specialized drop-off location.
It is worth noting that some municipalities may have different recycling capabilities, so it is always a good idea to check with your local programs to confirm what specific types of plastic can be recycled in your area. Additionally, while plastic utensils, cups, lids, and food wrappers may not be recyclable, other plastic items like bottles, tubs, jars, and jugs are often accepted for recycling.
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Most plastic is recyclable, but the process is energy-intensive and costly
Most plastic is technically recyclable. However, the process is often energy-intensive and costly, and the reality is that much of the plastic waste placed in recycling bins is never actually recycled.
According to Greenpeace, only 2.4 million tons of the 51 million tons of plastic waste produced by US households in 2021 were recycled. This is due in part to the fact that recycling plastic is expensive and often uses more energy than the creation of new plastic. For example, plastic foil used for packaging food is made of many different resin layers, and there is currently no chemical process to efficiently dissolve each layer. As a result, much of this waste is burned or ends up in landfills or the ocean, where it degrades and leeches out microplastic particles.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastic Economy (EMF NPE) Initiative defines an item as recyclable if it has a recycling rate of at least 30%. According to Greenpeace, not even the most recyclable type of plastic in the US meets this threshold. This is further complicated by the fact that different municipalities have different recycling capabilities, and some plastics can only be recycled at specific facilities. For example, biodegradable plastics can only be composted in an industrial composting recycling facility, and plastic bags can usually only be recycled by returning them to the store.
To ensure your plastic waste is recycled, it is important to check with your local recycling center to see what types of plastic they accept and how to prepare it for recycling.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on your local recycling program. Most plastic is technically recyclable, but some types of plastic are more commonly recycled than others. For example, PET, found in plastic drink bottles and microwavable food trays, and HDPE, found in plastic grocery bags, drink bottles, and non-food containers, are both widely recycled. However, plastic bags are the number one form of contamination in the recycling stream, so check with your local program before including them.
Yes, make sure to rinse and dry any plastic containers before placing them in your recycling bin.
No, labels can be left on plastic containers.
No, plastic bags and plastic film are not accepted in most city recycling bins. Plastic bags are the number one form of contamination in the recycling stream, clogging the machinery used to process recyclable materials.
No, plastic utensils cannot be recycled.
