Maya Ellison
The colours of recycling bins vary across different locations. In some places, the recycling bin is blue, while the trash bin is green. In other areas, the colours are reversed, with green representing recycling and blue or grey indicating trash. Understanding the specific colour-coding system in your locality is essential for effective recycling. Recycling symbols on plastic products, ranging from numbers 1 to 7, also provide crucial information about the type of plastic and its distinct recycling instructions. These symbols guide you in placing items in the proper bins to ensure they are appropriately recycled.
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling symbols and their meanings
Recycling symbols are important as they help us identify how different types of packaging can be recycled. However, it is important to note that recycling symbols are not standardised across the world, and different countries or continents follow their own standards.
One of the most common recycling symbols is the “chasing arrows” symbol, which is used to identify the type of plastic resin used to make the item. This symbol typically features a number between 1 and 7 that defines the resin used. The number within the chasing arrows symbol indicates the type of plastic used in manufacture, with each number representing a different type of plastic. The US, for example, uses seven codes for different types of plastic, while the rest of the world may use more. Products made from multiple types of plastic will display multiple codes.
Another symbol you may encounter is the seedling symbol, which indicates that an object is capable of being recycled through industrial composting. There is also a similar symbol for items suitable for home composting. It is important to note that compostable plastic should not be placed in recycling with other plastics, as it is designed to break down and can contaminate recyclable plastics.
Recycling symbols may also indicate whether an item is made from recycled materials. For example, the chasing arrows symbol may include a percentage figure in the centre to indicate that the packaging contains a certain percentage of recycled material.
While the colours of recycling bins may vary depending on the location, with some places using blue bins for recycling and others using green bins, the universal recycling symbol is widely recognised and free to use within the public domain.
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Barriers to recycling plastic
The recycling of plastics is a crucial strategy for reducing environmental impact, resource depletion, and waste management. However, there are several barriers that hinder the effectiveness of plastic recycling:
Public Awareness and Education:
People may be placing plastic into recycling bins, but a Greenpeace report reveals that a majority of this plastic ends up in landfills. This discrepancy occurs because the public is often not aware of which plastics can be genuinely recycled and which will ultimately be discarded. For instance, people want to recycle strawberry containers, bags, yogurt cups, and various other plastic items, but these materials often cannot be recycled and end up in landfills.
Variety of Plastics:
The variety of plastics in use poses a significant challenge to recycling. There are thousands of different types of plastics, and they cannot be melted down together. Each type of plastic has unique chemical compositions and properties, requiring specific recycling processes. This complexity makes it difficult and expensive to collect, sort, and process different plastics for recycling.
Recycling Technologies and Systems:
Advancements in recycling technologies and systems are creating new opportunities to tackle the plastic waste problem. However, the current recycling infrastructure in many places may not be equipped with the latest technologies, hindering the ability to efficiently collect, sort, and reprocess recyclable plastics.
Cost and Energy Requirements:
Recycling plastic can be expensive, and the process requires energy inputs. The collection and sorting of plastic waste, especially when dealing with a wide variety of plastic types, can be costly. Additionally, the recycling process itself consumes energy, which can offset some of the environmental benefits. While recycling can reduce energy usage compared to producing new plastics, the overall sustainability depends on managing energy inputs and external impacts on ecosystems.
Lack of Standardization:
The recycling process can be confusing due to a lack of standardized guidelines and practices. Different regions may have varying recycling capabilities and accepted types of plastics, leading to inconsistencies in what is considered recyclable. This inconsistency can hinder the public's trust and participation in recycling efforts.
To overcome these barriers, a combination of improved public education, advancements in recycling technologies, increased investment in recycling infrastructure, and standardized practices across regions is necessary. By addressing these challenges, we can enhance the effectiveness of plastic recycling and reduce its negative environmental impact.
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Plastic recycling rates in different countries
Plastic recycling rates vary across the world, with several factors influencing the success of recycling programmes. The rate of plastic recycling globally is extremely low, with only around 9% of plastic waste being successfully recycled. This is due in part to the fact that many types of plastics are labelled as recyclable when they are not. Plastic recycling is also more costly and energy-intensive than creating plastic from raw materials.
Richer countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person, but it is the mismanagement of this waste that is critical to tackling plastic pollution. Poorer countries, particularly low-to-middle-income countries, tend to have poorer waste management infrastructure, and as a result, higher rates of plastic pollution. A 2017 study estimated that Asian countries contributed 86% of plastic emissions to the ocean.
Some countries have implemented bans and taxes on single-use plastics, with over 120 countries introducing regulations. However, these tend to focus on items like plastic bags, which make up a small share of plastic waste. OECD countries, for example, account for 11% of macroplastics leakage and 35% of microplastics leakage.
The United States outsourced a significant portion of its plastic waste, but import bans in countries like China and Turkey have resulted in a decline in recycling. The US generates 221 kg of plastic waste per person annually, and every hour, 2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away in the country. The total bottle recycling rate in the US for 2020 was 27.2%, down from 28.7% in 2019.
International cooperation is needed to address the plastic waste crisis, with calls for a global agreement to standardise waste management practices and reduce plastic production.
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How to recycle plastic properly
The colours of recycling bins vary depending on the region. In some areas, the recycling bin is blue, and the trash bin is green, while in other places, it is the other way around. Therefore, it is important to check your local guidelines to ensure that you are using the correct bins for your recyclables.
When it comes to recycling plastic properly, there are several things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to separate different types of materials. For example, glass should be collected in a separate glass-only bin. Additionally, items made from mixed materials, such as bottle caps, juice boxes, and coated cardboard drink containers, cannot be recycled because the materials cannot be easily separated.
Another important consideration is the size and shape of plastic items. In some areas, such as Portland, plastics recycling is based on these factors rather than the recycle symbol and number on the item. It is also essential to ensure that plastic containers are rinsed and free of food residue before placing them in the recycling bin. They do not need to be perfectly clean, but a quick rinse will help remove any food residue.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that not all plastics are equally recyclable. Typically, plastics with a recycling number of one and two are the most widely recyclable. Plastic bags can be recycled, but many curbside programs will not accept them.
Lastly, certain plastic items require special handling. For instance, motor oil should be poured into a leakproof, clear plastic jug with a tightly closed lid and placed on the curb next to the waste bins. Batteries can be recycled, but they should be taped on both ends with clear tape and placed in a clear, 1-quart zip-sealed bag before being put in the recycling bin.
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Plastic resins and their recyclability
Plastic resins are derived from fossil fuels and are used to manufacture all types of plastics, including bottles and packaging for health and wellness products. Virgin resins, made from natural resources like oil and natural gas, are versatile and used for a variety of plastic packaging. Virgin resins are easily recyclable and can be recycled through Advanced Recycling, which uses post-consumer waste to create new batches of virgin resin. This process helps keep plastic out of landfills.
However, not all plastic resins are created equal when it comes to recyclability. Some are easier to recycle than others due to the type of material they are made of. For example, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is a dense resin used in plastic bottles and containers, but it is non-biodegradable and challenging to break down, making it essential to recycle. Recycled HDPE can be made into new bottles and bags. LPDE, similar to HDPE, is strong, durable, and flexible, often used for grocery bags, and can be recycled into more bags.
On the other hand, PP (Polypropylene) is a plastic resin that is more challenging to recycle due to its resistance to breaking down. It is used in products like clothing, bottles, and ropes, but only a small portion of it can be recycled, typically into more of the same products. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is commonly used in plumbing pipes, furniture, and toys due to its strength and lightweight nature, but it is generally not easily recycled. Companies using PVC can reuse scraps internally to minimize waste.
The recyclability of plastic resins varies, and proper recycling requires understanding which resins can be reused. Recycling plastics is crucial for reducing society's carbon footprint, and advancements like Advanced Recycling offer more sustainable options by creating an infinite loop for plastic waste to be continuously reused.
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Frequently asked questions
These numbers are Plastic Resin Identification Codes, which identify the type of plastic resin used to make the item.
The Green Dot does not indicate that the item is recyclable, will be recycled, or has been recycled. It means that the producer has made a financial contribution towards the recovery and recycling of packaging in Europe.
In principle, almost all plastic can be recycled. However, in practice, there are a variety of barriers that can undermine this process. For example, some plastics are hard to separate and recycle together, and recycling facilities can be costly to operate.
PET or PETE (1) and HDPE (2) are two of the easiest plastics to recycle. LDPE (4) and PP (5) are also considered widely recyclable, although LDPE can be difficult to process as it tends to tangle in recycling machinery.
PS (6) and PVC (3) are two types of plastics that are not easily recyclable. Polypropylene (PP) is also challenging to recycle due to the expense and complexity involved in processing it.
