Alexei Volkov
Plastic #7 is the catch-all category for other plastics, and it is perhaps the most difficult type of plastic to define and recycle. Plastic #7 is often made from multiple plastic types or from other types of plastic that are hard to recycle. It can be challenging to identify, especially if it doesn't have a recycling number, and it's important not to mix it with other types of plastics in your recycling bin as it can contaminate recycling batches. So, how can you recycle plastic #7 and what are some things to keep in mind?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty in Identification | Plastic #7 can be challenging to identify, especially without a recycling number. It often includes multiple plastic types or hard-to-recycle plastics. |
| Aliases | "Other" plastics, styrene acrylonitrile (AS/SAN), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyactic acid (PLA) |
| Consumption Rates | Approximately 4% of the world's oil production is used for plastic products. |
| Pollution | Many #7 plastic containers contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical linked to health and environmental concerns. |
| Decomposition | Plastics can take hundreds of years to break down, contributing to environmental concerns. |
| Recycling Considerations | Do not mix #7 plastics with other types in recycling bins to avoid contamination. Curbside recycling programs may accept #7 plastics if they can be identified as such. |
| Recycling Process | Recycled plastics are processed into pellets, which can be used to create new products like synthetic lumber or recycled into film, pouches, or bags. |
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What You'll Learn
- Identify plastic #7: Look for resin codes, usually a number inside a small triangle of arrows
- Curbside recycling: Some programs accept #7 plastics if they can be identified as such
- Composting bio-based plastics: Send bio-based plastics to commercial composting facilities, not home compost bins
- Do not mix with other plastics: #7 plastics can contaminate other recycling batches if mixed?
- Hard-to-recycle plastics: Plastic #7 is hard to define and recycle; consider specialist recycling for Styrofoam, etc
Identify plastic #7: Look for resin codes, usually a number inside a small triangle of arrows
Plastic #7 is often hard to identify, especially if it doesn't have a recycling number. It is a miscellaneous category for plastic items that don't fit into the other six resin categories. Plastic #7 is a catch-all category for "other" plastics and is challenging to recycle. It is often not accepted by local municipalities.
The number inside the triangle on plastic containers is a resin identification code, indicating the type of plastic resin content. The presence of a resin code does not mean the product can be recycled—it is the number inside the triangle that matters as each number corresponds to a different type of plastic. The numbers are valuable consumer information, indicating the likelihood of your recycling ending up in a landfill.
Plastic #7 includes bio-based plastics made from potato, sugar, or corn derivatives, and polylactic acid (PLA) plastic. PLA plastic should be sent to commercial composting facilities. Other items in this category include oven-baking bags, large 3-5 gallon water jugs, bulletproof materials, sunglasses, DVDs, clear plastic cutlery, lighting fixtures, signs and displays, and certain food containers.
To recycle plastic #7, check your local municipality's website for specific instructions.
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Curbside recycling: Some programs accept #7 plastics if they can be identified as such
Plastic #7 is hard to identify and recycle. It is often made from multiple plastic types or other challenging-to-recycle plastic types. It is a catch-all category for "other" plastics that do not fit into the first six categories. This includes bioplastics, polycarbonate (PC), and new plastics.
While it is difficult to recycle #7 plastic, some curbside recycling programs do accept it. However, this depends on whether the items can be identified as #7 plastics. To identify #7 plastic, look for a recycling symbol—usually on the bottom, side, or top of the product. This symbol is a triangle of chasing arrows with a number from 1 to 7 inside. If the product does not have a recycling number, it is likely #7 plastic if it does not fit into any other resin category from 1 to 6.
To recycle #7 plastic through a curbside program, separate it from other types of plastics to avoid contamination. Check with your local municipality or recycling program to confirm if they accept #7 plastics and for specific instructions. Some programs may have restrictions or special handling requirements for this challenging-to-recycle material.
It is important to note that not all recycling programs accept #7 plastic due to its varied composition and the lack of standard protocols for processing it. Even if a plastic type can be recycled, your local municipality may not want it in your recycling bin for collection. Always refer to their guidelines and stay up to date with any changes to ensure proper disposal.
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Composting bio-based plastics: Send bio-based plastics to commercial composting facilities, not home compost bins
Plastic #7 is hard to identify and often ends up in the other plastics category, which is the most challenging group to recycle. This category includes mixed plastics made from potato, sugar, or corn derivatives, known as polylactic acid (PLA) or bio-based plastics.
Bio-based plastics are manufactured from plant materials instead of oil or natural gas. They are compostable but not recyclable. To be labelled "compostable," a plastic must be able to break down via biological treatment at a commercial or industrial composting facility. This process uses microorganisms, heat, and humidity to yield carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass.
The decomposition must occur within six months and leave no toxic residue that could harm plant growth. ASTM Standards D6400 and D6868 outline these specifications. There are currently no ASTM standard test methods to evaluate home composting suitability. Therefore, unless the label indicates that the product is suitable for home composting, it should not be composted at home.
Bio-based plastics should be sent to commercial composting facilities. These facilities use various techniques, such as windrow, in-vessel, and aerated static pile composting, to process large volumes of waste. These large-scale, centralized composting facilities can serve wide geographic areas and divert significant amounts of organic materials from waste disposal facilities.
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Do not mix with other plastics: #7 plastics can contaminate other recycling batches if mixed
Plastic #7 is the catch-all category for "other" plastics and is perhaps the most difficult type of plastic to define and recycle. Products stamped with a 7 are often made of multiple plastic types or other types of plastic that can't be easily recycled.
Before being recycled, plastics are sorted according to their resin type, either manually or using mechanized automated processes, or even by colour. Mixing #7 plastics with other plastics can lead to contamination of the recycling batches. This is because #7 plastics can be mistaken for other types of plastics, such as High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE).
HDPE plastics are extremely common and are used to make milk jugs, shampoo bottles, cleaning product containers, and detergent bottles. LDPE plastics are used for a lot of plastic wrappings, as well as grocery bags and the bags that hold newspapers, sliced bread loaves, and fresh produce. #7 plastics can be easily confused with these other types of plastics during the sorting process, leading to contamination of the recycling batches.
Therefore, it is important to keep #7 plastics separate from other types of plastics to avoid contamination and ensure proper recycling.
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Hard-to-recycle plastics: Plastic #7 is hard to define and recycle; consider specialist recycling for Styrofoam, etc
Plastic #7 is a catch-all category for )"other" plastics that don't fit into the previous categories. It is perhaps the most difficult type of plastic to define and recycle. Products stamped with a 7 are often made of multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle plastics.
Knowing how to recycle plastic #7 depends on what type of material it is made from. If you can determine its component parts and they fit within plastic resin categories 1 through 6, follow those recycling instructions. Otherwise, check your municipality's website for specific instructions. Some curbside recycling programs will accept #7 plastic items if there is a way to identify them as #7 plastics.
Some examples of plastic #7 include polycarbonate, a clear, hard plastic that has been found to be a hormone disruptor; bio-based plastics made from potato, sugar, or corn derivatives; and PLA (polylactic acid), which is made from plants and is carbon-neutral.
Hard-to-recycle plastics, including Styrofoam, shrink wrap, and manufacturing scrap, require specialized handling. Bags made of type 4 plastic, like produce and grocery bags, should not be put into recycling bins because they can get tangled in the equipment at recycling facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Mixed plastic #7 is the "other" plastics category, which includes plastics that don't fit into the other six categories. This group is hard to define and challenging to recycle.
Mixed plastic #7 can be challenging to identify, especially if it doesn't have a recycling number. If you're unsure, look for the resin code: a number from one to seven inside a small triangle. If it's not one of the first six categories, it's #7.
The recycling process for mixed plastic #7 depends on its component parts. If they fit into categories 1-6, follow those instructions. Some bio-based plastics, for example, should be sent to commercial composting facilities. Check with your local curbside recycling program, as they may accept #7 plastics. However, do not mix them with other plastics, as this can contaminate recycling batches.
