The Ultimate Guide To Plastic Recycling

Plastic is one of the most versatile materials of our time, with 300 million tonnes produced annually. However, it can take 500-1000 years to biodegrade, so recycling is essential to reduce its environmental impact. While almost all plastic can be recycled in theory, the process is often undermined by economic and technical barriers. Recycling plastic conserves natural resources and energy, but it's important to understand the specifics of how to recycle different types of plastic effectively. This includes knowing what your local recycling program accepts and how to prepare items for recycling.

Plastic bottle recycling

Plastic bottles are among the most common sources of marine debris, and they can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. Recycling plastic bottles is an easy way to protect the environment.

First, it's important to rinse out the bottle to remove any food, liquid, or chemical residue. You should also remove the cap and any labels or packaging. The bottle doesn't need to be perfectly clean, but no residue should be inside. Leaving the cap on can cause issues for recycling machinery, and separated caps can wreak havoc on equipment. However, some programs want the cap on to prevent loose caps from falling out during transportation. Check with your local program to see what they prefer.

Next, place the bottle in a designated recycling bin or container. If you can't find a bin, you can collect your recyclables and bring them back to your home bin. You can also look for public recycling bins at public parks, sports stadiums, and beaches. Many curbside recycling programs accept at least #1 and #2 plastic bottles, and bigger programs accept all numbers and plastics in other forms (like yogurt containers). Recycling centres use optical scanners to identify the type of plastic resin, so #1 and #2 plastics are separated from each other and other materials (such as paper and glass).

The recycling centre will then shred the plastic into flakes, which are washed, rinsed, and dried. The flakes are then melted into pellets, which are sold to manufacturers to make new products, including new plastic bottles, clothing, furniture, auto parts, and more.

Recycling plastic bottles can make a big difference in protecting our environment and has economic benefits as well. Recycling and reuse activities provided over 681,000 jobs in the United States in 2020, and recycling 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours.

Plastic bag recycling

Plastic bags are a major source of pollution, taking hundreds of years to decompose in landfills and often ending up in oceans, where they can be mistaken for food by birds and fish. However, recycling plastic bags can save oil, which is used in their production.

Recycling plastic bags involves chipping the bags into pellets, which can then be reprocessed into new bags or other products, such as synthetic lumber for decking or park benches.

Most plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene (#2 plastic), but thinner bags, such as produce bags, are made from low-density polyethylene (#4 plastic). Before recycling, ensure bags are clean, dry, and free of any receipts, crumbs, or other items.

To recycle plastic bags, you can take them to collection bins at participating retail and grocery stores. Many large retailers and grocery stores, including Kroger, Safeway, Target, and Walmart, offer bag recycling collections, usually located near the front entrance. However, check with your local store or use an online recycling locator to find the nearest drop-off point.

It's important to note that plastic bags are not accepted in most curbside recycling bins. They can cause issues by getting stuck in recycling equipment, and most recyclers prefer that all recyclables are placed loosely in the bin rather than bagged.

Plastic wrap recycling

Plastic wrap and film packaging are generally made using #2 and #4 plastic resins, which are both recyclable. However, most curbside recycling programs do not accept plastic wrap and film, so they must be taken to a drop-off location for recycling.

Retail and grocery stores often accept these materials for recycling. Large retailers such as Target and Walmart now have plastic film recycling bins near the front of their stores. You can also use the Earth911 Recycling Locator to find a plastic film recycling location near you.

Before dropping off your plastic wrap for recycling, ensure that it is clean and dry. Wet or food-soiled plastic wrap and film should not be recycled as they can cause costly contamination during the recycling process. A light wipe with a dry cloth is usually sufficient to remove any residue.

Plastic bags and wraps are often recycled into durable, low-maintenance lumber for backyard decks or fences. Recycled plastic films can also be used to make products like stormwater management systems, construction materials, and new flexible plastic films.

Plastic types and their resin codes

Resin Identification Codes (RIC) are the numbers found on the bottom of rigid plastic packaging. They were first introduced in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in the United States as a "Voluntary Plastic Container Coding System". The purpose was to "provide a consistent national system to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics".

The RIC system uses numbers 1 through 7 to identify the type of resin used in the plastic product. These numbers are enclosed within a triangle, which was originally made of arrows. However, due to its resemblance to the universal recycling symbol, the arrows were replaced with a solid triangle in 2013.

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE): This plastic is commonly used for single-use bottled beverages, cups, and other packaging. It is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to recycle. Clear PET has a high recycling value as it can be turned into similar products, such as polyester fabric and filling for carpets and cushions.
• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): This type of plastic is used for products like bottles, cups, milk jugs, and plastic shopping bags.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): PVC is used for pipes, siding, flooring, and other similar products. It is important to note that PVC products generally cannot be recycled.
• Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): LDPE is often used for plastic bags, six-pack rings, tubing, and grocery bags. LDPE products can sometimes be recycled, but they should not be placed in recycling bins as they can get tangled in recycling equipment.
• Polypropylene (PP): This plastic has a high melting point and is used for containers that hold hot liquids, such as yogurt containers, straws, and bottle caps. PP can be recycled through some curbside programs, but it is important to ensure that the containers are clean and dry.
• Polystyrene (PS): This plastic is often used for disposable coffee cups, packing peanuts, coolers, and to-go food containers. PS products can sometimes be recycled, but they are not accepted in normal local authority collections.
• Other Plastics: This category includes bioplastics, composite plastics (like crisp wrappers), plastic-coated paper, and polycarbonate (which contains BPA). Products with a code of 7 are often made of multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle plastics. While some areas can recycle most plastic products, including those with a code of 7, it is best to check with local facilities to see what plastics they can accept.

How to recycle plastic at home

Plastic recycling is a great way to help conserve natural resources, reduce waste, save energy, and create jobs. However, it can be a confusing process. Here is a guide on how to recycle plastic at home:

Identify the Plastics to Recycle

First, identify the plastics you want to recycle. Common household items that can be recycled include plastic bottles, containers, and caps from shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, body wash, and mouthwash. Plastic bags, wraps, and films, such as sandwich bags, bread bags, and shipping pillows, can also be recycled. Check with your local recycling program to find out which specific types of plastic they accept, as not all plastics are recyclable in all communities.

Prepare the Plastics for Recycling

Before placing plastics in the recycling bin, ensure they are clean and dry. Remove any food scraps, residue, or labels from the plastic items. It is not necessary to remove bottle caps or flatten plastic bottles, as these can be recycled as well. However, remember to cut off sealable zippers from sandwich bags before recycling them.

Separate and Sort Plastics (Optional)

Depending on your local recycling policies, you may need to separate and sort your plastics by type. Some local authorities, states, and countries have distinct rules for collecting recyclables, so check with your local program to understand their specific requirements.

Recycle the Plastics

Once your plastics are prepared and sorted, place them in the appropriate recycling bin. If you are unable to recycle certain plastics through your local program, consider taking them to retail or grocery stores that accept specific materials for recycling, such as plastic bags and wraps.

Additional Tips

• Plastic utensils, compostable plastics, and polystyrene are often not accepted in community recycling programs.
• Placing small recycling receptacles in various rooms, such as the bathroom and laundry area, can make it easier to recycle.
• When possible, purchase products made from recycled plastic materials to support the market for recycled content.

At-Home Plastic Recycling

It is possible to recycle plastic at home by melting and molding it into new shapes. However, this method should be approached with caution due to the toxic fumes produced during the melting process. Ensure you have adequate ventilation and an exhaust fan if performing this process indoors. Search online for guides on melting plastic safely and identifying the different types of plastic to understand which are safe to melt.

Frequently asked questions