Ethan Clarke
Plastic recycling is a complex issue, with less than 10% of plastic waste worldwide ever being recycled. In the UK, households throw away 90 billion pieces of plastic annually, and only 42% of household plastic waste is collected for recycling. Number 5 plastic, or polypropylene, is a hard and heat-resistant plastic used in products like prescription medicine bottles, yoghurt cups, and personal care product packaging. While polypropylene can be recycled, it may not be accepted by local authorities or recycling centres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Plastic number | 5 |
| Recyclability | Recyclable, but not always accepted by local authorities |
| Common uses | Yogurt pots, tubs, plastic trays, prescription medicine bottles, hummus tubs, single-use cutlery, deodorant packaging, lotion packaging, shampoo packaging |
| Properties | Hard, heat-resistant |
| Recycling options | Curbside recycling, drop-off recycling, mail-in options, recycling programs |
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What You'll Learn
Polypropylene (PP) is hard to recycle
Polypropylene, commonly known as number 5 plastic, is a hard and heat-resistant plastic. 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. While polypropylene can be recycled, it is not accepted by all local authorities or recycling centres. Therefore, it is important to check with your local authority or recycling centre to ensure that they can process it.
One challenge with recycling polypropylene is that it is difficult to separate used polypropylene food packaging from other types of packaging. Food safety regulations mandate that different types of packaging must be kept separate, which means that polypropylene food packaging cannot be turned back into food packaging. Technology is attempting to address this issue through invisible labelling, which would allow for the sorting of food and non-food packaging. However, as of now, polypropylene is usually only recycled once.
Another challenge with recycling polypropylene is that it is not always accepted by recycling centres or local authorities. Before China's National Sword policy was introduced in 2018, number 5 plastics were widely accepted in both curbside and drop-off recycling centres. However, after China stopped accepting contaminated plastic waste for recycling, many recycling centres had to find alternative solutions for polypropylene. While some curbside and drop-off programs have reintroduced number 5 rigid plastic recycling, films and bags remain a problem.
To determine if your local authority or a nearby recycling centre recycles polypropylene, you can check your municipality's or council's website or contact them directly. Additionally, some organisations, such as TerraCycle, offer recycling programs for a variety of products, including some that contain polypropylene. It is worth noting that these programs may incur fees.
To reduce the amount of polypropylene waste, it is recommended to avoid products packaged in this hard-to-recycle material and to encourage manufacturers to use earth-friendly packaging. Simple packaging made from a single material is generally easier to recycle than complex, multi-layered packaging containing different materials such as metal and plastic film. Glass, for example, is 100% recyclable, and the majority of glass is recycled rather than exported.
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PP is used in yoghurt pots, tubs, trays, and medicine bottles
Polypropylene (PP) is a commonly used plastic polymer and is identified with the number 5 inside a triangle, the plastic resin identification code for PP. PP is used in yoghurt pots, tubs, trays, and medicine bottles.
PP is used in yoghurt pots, tubs, and trays due to its lightweight and flexible nature. PP is also a good moisture barrier and can be easily moulded into different shapes. In the past, yoghurt pots were commonly made from polystyrene, which is not widely recycled. However, PP is recyclable, although local authorities may vary in their collection of PP products. To determine if a product is made from PP, look for the plastic resin identification code, a triangle with a number 5 inside.
Yoghurt pots made from PP are typically white or milky white with a certain level of transparency. However, some consumers have noted a shift towards yoghurt pots made from clear plastic, which is easier to recycle. Manufacturers are making this switch to embrace environmental consciousness and make their products more environmentally friendly.
PP is also used in medicine bottles, as it is a safe material for food and drug contact. Medicine bottles made from PP are designed with child safety and tamper resistance in mind, ensuring the security of households. PP medicine bottles are also available in various colours, achieved by adding pigments or masterbatches to the plastic raw materials.
PP is recyclable, but it is important to check with your local authority to ensure that they collect PP products for recycling.
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China's 2018 National Sword Policy impacted #5 plastic recycling
In the UK, the recyclability of #5 plastic, or polypropylene, depends on your local authority. While PP can be recycled, some local authorities do not collect it for recycling.
In 2018, China introduced a 0.5% contamination limit along with a ban on many recyclables, including plastics, through its National Sword program. This policy has impacted the recyclability of #5 plastics.
Before the National Sword policy, #5 plastics were widely accepted in both curbside and drop-off recycling centres in China. The policy imposed strict contamination limits on recyclable materials, prohibiting imports of low-quality recyclables. This led to a sudden loss of recyclable plastic customers and a significant decline in exports of plastic scrap. The cost and risk of exporting plastic materials increased for US material recovery facilities (MRFs) and processors, as they now had to meet China's stringent contamination limits. As a result, the amount of plastic recycled in the US declined, while the amount of plastic landfilled increased.
The National Sword policy has also had indirect impacts on the plastics recycling industry. Specialists have predicted that more than 100 million metric tons of plastic waste will be displaced by 2030. The glut of plastic waste has caused some to speculate that landfilling of plastics has increased in the US. However, the reduced shipping of plastic scrap over large distances has been a positive ecological impact of the policy.
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Local authorities often don't collect plastic bags
Polypropylene, or Number 5 plastic, 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.
In the UK, the recyclability of Number 5 plastic depends on your local council. While some local authorities do collect polypropylene, many do not. In fact, only 7% of councils will accept carrier bags for recycling. This is because plastic bags can get stuck in sorting equipment and cause it to break down.
The lack of consistency among councils can be confusing for residents. For example, North West Leicestershire council collects black trays, South Cambridge council accepts plastic coffee cups, and Blaby in Leicestershire accepts plastic cutlery. However, 27% of councils in England do not recycle plastics like tubs, pots, and food trays, even though they are labelled as recyclable.
If your local council does not accept Number 5 plastic, there are other options for responsible disposal. Some local supermarkets accept carrier bags for recycling. Additionally, the international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization Mathew 25: Ministries accepts clean, empty pill bottles, including prescription medicine bottles.
It is important to note that the recycling symbol on a plastic product does not necessarily indicate that it can be recycled in your community. The symbol is a resin identification code that tells users what kind of plastic they are holding. To properly recycle Number 5 plastic, it is essential to check with your local council or waste management guidelines.
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Recycling plastic is complicated
Plastic recycling is a complex issue, and it can be challenging to determine whether a particular type of plastic is recyclable or not. This is true in the UK and worldwide. The presence of a resin identification code, often a number inside a triangle, on plastic packaging does not necessarily indicate that it can be recycled. This code merely denotes the category of plastic the product is made of. The on-pack recycling label (OPRL) or other recycling information is more useful in determining what to do with the packaging.
In the UK, the latest survey from plastics recycling member charity RECOUP found that only 42% of the plastic that households dispose of is collected for recycling. This is partly because consumers don't know what types of plastic can be recycled and how to dispose of them. For example, while PP (resin code 5) can be recycled, it cannot be turned back into food packaging because it is difficult to separate used PP food packaging from other types, and food safety regulations require them to be kept separate.
Another challenge is that some plastics are hard to recycle effectively. For instance, flexible plastics like plastic bags and wrapping are difficult to recycle, and only a small number of councils in the UK offer kerbside collection for these. Most supermarkets now offer a front-of-store recycling service for this type of plastic. However, it is essential to check with your local council or supermarket before including these items in your recycling, as incorrect recycling can contaminate the whole collection, leading to it being dumped in a landfill.
Furthermore, some plastics are not accepted by recycling companies due to the difficulty and cost of processing them. For example, Styrofoam is not commonly recycled and should be put in the general waste bin. Similarly, grocery and produce bags made of plastic should not be put into recycling bins as they can get tangled in recycling equipment. Instead, these bags can be recycled at grocery stores that collect them for proper plastics recycling.
Finally, the recyclability of a plastic item also depends on your location, as different regions and countries have different recycling capabilities and guidelines. For example, Number 5 plastics were widely accepted in both curbside and drop-off recycling centres before China stopped accepting contaminated plastic waste for recycling in 2018. As such, it is essential to check with your local waste department or council to understand their specific recycling guidelines and capabilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Number 5 plastic is polypropylene, often shortened to PP. It is a particularly hard and heat-resistant plastic. It is often used in prescription medicine bottles, yoghurt cups, hummus tubs, single-use cutlery, and some packaging for personal care products.
Yes, number 5 plastic can be recycled in the UK. However, it may not be collected by your local council. It is best to check with your local authority to see if they will take it.
Recycled PP usually ends up being black or grey, making it unsuitable for packaging use. It is often used for plastic lumbers, park benches, auto parts, and speed bumps.
If your local council does not collect number 5 plastic, you can check with your local supermarket as many now offer front-of-store recycling services for plastic bags and wrapping.
