Phoenix Plastic Recycling: How Much Can You Earn?

Plastic recycling in Phoenix, Arizona, is an important initiative that helps to reduce the negative impact on the environment. The City of Phoenix accepts all kinds of plastics, including soft plastic bags, although not all plastics are recyclable. Plastic products are labelled with a number from one to seven, indicating the type of plastic material. Plastic items marked one or two can be recycled in the regular bin, but those labelled three cannot be placed in the standard recycling bin because they contain polyvinyl chloride. The City of Phoenix has a unique soft plastics recycling programme to divert plastic bags from landfills.

The City of Phoenix accepts all kinds of plastics, including soft plastic bags

The City of Phoenix accepts all kinds of plastics for recycling, including soft plastic bags. However, not all plastics are recyclable, so it's important to check the labels on your containers. Plastics are typically marked with a number from one to seven, indicating the type of plastic material. Plastic items marked one or two can be placed in the regular recycling bin, but products labelled three can't be recycled in the standard bin because they contain polyvinyl chloride. The City of Phoenix has a unique soft plastics recycling programme to divert plastic bags from landfills.

There are also companies in Phoenix that buy plastic, but they don't take small quantities.

Plastic products labelled three can't go in the standard recycling bin because they contain polyvinyl chloride

Plastic products labelled three cannot go in the standard recycling bin because they contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is one of the oldest synthetic materials and is commonly found in our homes and lives. It is cheap to make, lightweight, very strong, and resistant to oil and chemicals. However, recycling PVC can be tricky as it can be quite toxic when disposed of, and recycling is not very accessible to the general community.

In most locations, PVC items are not accepted in curbside recycling programs and can only be recycled through specialist recyclers. Some countries have been moving away from using plastic resin numbers and instead referring to rigid and soft plastics. Rigid plastic refers to packaging that bounces back when you try to squash it, while soft plastic can be scrunched up. Curbside programs focus primarily on day-to-day packaging waste from households and don't accept most items made with PVC, such as pipes, window frames, or sidings.

However, if you have rigid PVC bottles or containers, these can most likely be recycled in your curbside recycling. Some recycling programs exist for specific types of PVC, such as the Recofloor vinyl flooring take-back scheme in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. If the PVC is in the form of a shampoo bottle, it is possibly recyclable in your curbside as long as you check what numbers are accepted.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the City of Phoenix accepts all kinds of plastics, including soft plastic bags. However, not all plastics are recyclable, so checking the labels on your containers is critical. Plastics range from one to seven, indicating the plastic material type. Plastic items marked one or two can be recycled in the regular recycling bin, but plastic products labelled three cannot go in the standard recycling bin due to the presence of PVC.

Plastic recycling allows for the reutilization of materials, reducing the need for new raw materials

There are plastic buyers in Phoenix, but they don't take small quantities. Plastic can also be recycled elsewhere.

Plastic recycling decreases greenhouse gas emissions and minimizes the negative impact on the environment

Landfilling emits the least greenhouse gases on an absolute level, although it presents significant other risks. Recycling has a moderate emissions profile but displaces new virgin plastic on the market, making it advantageous from an emissions perspective. Incineration leads to extremely high emissions and is the primary driver of emissions from plastic waste management. The refinement of plastics emits an additional 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year. Landfills, where single-use plastics are sent, account for more than 15% of methane emissions.

The disposal of more plastics in landfills leads to increases in landfill size and these emissions. There is an enormous floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean, twice the size of Texas, that continues to grow. Plastic pollution affects the most vulnerable communities first. Developed countries, such as the United States, send plastic to developing countries for processing. Eventually, the amount of plastic can become so overwhelming that these communities run out of ways to dispose of it and become covered in plastic trash.

Much of the plastic that doesn’t make it to the recycling plant ends up in our rivers and ocean. Not only is this a danger to the animals and plants whose habitats have become aquatic garbage patches, but it also poses a threat to the climate, as plastic releases greenhouse gases as it slowly breaks down. Sunlight and heat cause it to release methane and ethylene – and at an increasing rate as the plastic breaks down into ever smaller pieces. Research suggests that microplastics affect the ability of marine microorganisms to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

You can recycle plastic items marked one or two in the regular recycling bin

If you're looking to sell your plastic, there are plastic buyers in Phoenix, but they don't take small quantities.

Frequently asked questions