Ethan Clarke
Plastic recycling is challenging, especially for PP 5 plastic, which is one of the least recycled plastics. PP 5 plastic, or polypropylene, is a hard and heat-resistant plastic with a high melting point, commonly used for food containers, bottle tops, and some packaging for personal care products. While the recycling symbol on plastic products indicates the type of plastic, it does not always mean that the item can be recycled in your community. To recycle PP 5 plastic, you can check with your local curbside recycling program, local drop-off points, or mail-in options to see what they accept. It is important to separate and clean PP 5 plastic items before recycling them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Identification | Polypropylene, PP, Number 5 Plastic |
| Composition | Propylene monomers |
| Properties | Hard, heat-resistant, good chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, and most solvents, moisture-resistant, high melting point |
| Uses | Food containers, yogurt containers, bottle tops, soft plastics like chip packets or ropes, prescription medicine bottles, yogurt cups, hummus tubs, single-use cutlery, packaging for personal care products, lids of single-use drink bottles, toothbrush handles, single-use laboratory and medical supplies |
| Recycling | Accepted in both curbside and drop-off recycling centers before China’s National Sword policy in 2018; TerraCycle offers fee-based recycling programs for various products; local drop-off points at supermarkets or other stores for soft plastics; some curbside programs accept PP but must be rigid and free of food residue |
| Environmental Impact | One of the least recycled plastics, with less than 1% of PP recycled; takes 20-30 years to decompose in landfills and may leach chemicals into the environment; when heated, can form chemicals with unknown toxicity similar to BHT and BHA |
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What You'll Learn
Curbside recycling
PP or polypropylene, identified by the number 5 in the chasing arrows symbol, is a type of plastic that is hard and heat-resistant. It is often used in prescription medicine bottles, yoghurt cups, hummus tubs, single-use cutlery, and some packaging for personal care products like deodorant, lotion, or shampoo. It is also commonly used for bottle tops and food containers. Before China's National Sword policy was introduced in 2018, many curbside recycling programs accepted PP rigid plastic products like plastic bottles or tubs. However, most did not accept flexible PP like bags or soft packaging.
Nowadays, many curbside recycling programs are reintroducing the acceptance of PP rigid plastic products, but it is still important to check with your local authority to see what they accept. Some specialist recyclers will accept bottle tops, but these cannot usually be recycled in your curbside recycling bin.
To recycle PP plastic, you can also look into recycling businesses that accept items that cannot be recycled at home. For example, the international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization, Matthew 25: Ministries, accepts clean, empty pill bottles, including prescription medicine bottles. TerraCycle is another company that offers recycling programs for a variety of home and personal care products, as well as fee-based programs for other items.
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Drop-off points
Once you have identified your PP 5 plastics, you can start looking for drop-off locations in your area. Some common locations for drop-off points include:
- Supermarkets or other stores: Many supermarkets have local drop-off points for soft plastics, such as plastic bags. However, be sure to check that your PP 5 plastic is accepted and always ensure that any food residue has been cleaned and dried before dropping it off.
- Recycling centers: Dedicated recycling centers often accept a wider range of plastics, including PP 5. They may have specific requirements for how the plastics should be prepared and delivered, so be sure to check their guidelines.
- Mail-in programs: If you cannot easily get to a physical drop-off location, you can consider mail-in programs that specialize in recycling PP 5 plastics.
- Community recyclers: More and more community recyclers are now accepting PP 5 plastics. Check with your local community recycler to see if they offer this service.
It is important to note that not all drop-off locations will accept all types of PP 5 plastic, so it is always best to check with the specific location beforehand. Additionally, remember to clean and dry any PP 5 plastic items that have come into contact with food or other products to prevent contamination.
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Mail-in options
While recycling plastic #5 hasn't been traditionally part of curbside programs, more and more community recyclers are now making it possible to recycle these types of plastics. However, if you are looking for mail-in options, there are a few available.
Firstly, you can check with your local solid waste district to find out about local options in your region. For instance, the international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization, Mathew 25: Ministries, accepts clean, empty pill bottles, including prescription medicine bottles and small pill bottles that may be too small to recycle curbside. The ministry reuses bottles in countries where such supplies are limited and recycles those they cannot use.
Another option is to use TerraCycle, a company specializing in recycling hard-to-recycle items. While they do not have a specific program for number 5 plastics, they offer free and fee-based recycling programs for a variety of home and personal care products that can be mailed to them. Their All-in-One Zero Waste Box accepts any material, including #5 plastics.
Additionally, you can mail your #5 plastics to a recycler called Preserve, which has a program called Gimme 5. This program specifically accepts #5 plastics, such as yogurt and cottage cheese containers.
It is important to note that before mailing any plastic waste, you should ensure that the items are clean and dry. It is also recommended to check with the specific program or organization to understand their guidelines and requirements for mailed-in recyclables.
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Recycling symbols
It is important to note that the chasing arrows symbol does not necessarily mean the item can be recycled. It is simply an identifier of the type of plastic. To determine whether an item can be recycled, it is best to check with your local authority or recycling centre. Some materials may be accepted by one centre but not another, so it is always good to check.
Other recycling symbols to look out for include the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo, which identifies wood-based products from well-managed forests. The symbol for recyclable aluminium is also one to note, as well as the symbol for compostable plastic, which should be recycled with garden waste and not with other plastics. Electrical items are another category with their own symbol, and these can be recycled via retailers or at recycling centres.
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Chemical recycling
Polypropylene (PP) or plastic #5 is one of the most common plastics globally, but it is also one of the least recycled plastics. It is reported that less than 1% of PP is recycled. When sent to landfills, PP can take 20 to 30 years to decompose and may leach chemicals into the environment.
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is a thermal process that breaks down plastic waste in the absence of oxygen. The long polymer chains of plastic are broken down into smaller molecules, creating a product known as pyrolysis oil or gas. This oil can be further refined and used as a fuel or feedstock for the chemical industry. Pyrolysis is a promising technology for PP recycling as it can handle a wide range of plastic waste, including contaminated or mixed plastics.
Solvolysis
Solvolysis is a process that uses solvents to dissolve the plastic and break it down into its constituent parts. This method can effectively separate the polymers in PP and convert them into valuable chemicals or raw materials for new products. Solvolysis can be done using various solvents, such as water, oils, or gases, depending on the specific plastic and the desired output.
Hydrogenation
Hydrogenation is a process that uses hydrogen gas to treat plastic waste at high temperatures and pressures. This method can break down the polymer chains in PP and convert them into valuable chemicals or fuels. Hydrogenation can be particularly useful for recycling PP into high-quality products, such as new plastics or chemicals used in the manufacturing industry.
Chemical Solvent-Based Recycling
This process uses a chemical solvent to dissolve the plastic, followed by a series of chemical treatments to separate and purify the desired polymers. The final product is a recycled plastic resin that can be used to create new products. This method is more energy-efficient than traditional recycling methods and can produce high-quality recycled plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
PP 5 plastic, or polypropylene, is identified by the number 5 surrounded by chasing arrows. It has a high melting point, making it suitable for holding hot materials, and is often used for food containers, yoghurt pots, and bottle tops.
Check with your local authority to see what they accept. Most curbside recycling programs accept PP 5 rigid items, but not soft flexible items. You can also check for mail-in and drop-off programs.
Recycling PP 5 plastic helps to prevent it from ending up in landfills and harming marine life. When sent to landfills, PP 5 plastic can take 20-30 years to decompose and may leach chemicals into the environment.
