Omar Khalid
New York City's recycling system diverts a large amount of waste from landfills daily, turning them into new products and materials. While the system is not perfect, many items are recyclable and valuable to those who make products from recycled materials. The numbers on plastic items are resin identification codes and do not indicate how recyclable something is. However, some categories of plastic are more widely recyclable than others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic types that are widely recyclable in the US | 1, 2 and 5 |
| Plastic types that are recyclable in NYC | Metal, glass jars and bottles, rigid plastics, cartons, plastic bags and film plastic, small appliances, beverage and liquid food cartons, mostly-plastic furniture |
| Plastic types that are not recyclable in NYC | Drinking glasses, eyeglasses, glass furniture, mirrors, light bulbs, rechargeable batteries |
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What You'll Learn
Resin identification codes
The Resin Identification Code (RIC) is a technical standard with a set of symbols that appear on plastic products to identify the type of plastic resin used in the manufacturing of the product. The RIC was developed in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry (now the Plastics Industry Association) in the United States. Since 2008, it has been administered by ASTM International, an international standards organization. The RIC symbols are often mistaken for recycling symbols due to their resemblance. The original symbol, known as the "chasing arrows", was replaced by a solid triangle in 2013 to distinguish it from the recycling symbol and to clarify that the RIC's purpose is to identify resin types rather than recyclability.
The RIC system uses a set of numbers and symbols to identify different types of plastic resins. The numbers range from 1 to 7, with each number representing a specific type of plastic resin. These numbers are often enclosed within a triangle, a recycling symbol, or the letters "RIC" to indicate that they are part of the identification code. The different resin identification codes can also be represented by Unicode icons, such as ♳, ♴, ♵, ♶, ♷, ♸, and ♹.
The purpose of the RIC is to facilitate the identification, collection, disposal, and recycling of plastic products. It helps consumers and waste operators distinguish between different types of plastic resins, making it easier to sort and recycle these materials efficiently. In the United States, the use of the RIC has led to some consumer confusion about which plastic products are recyclable. Initially, only plastics with RICs "1" and "2" (polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene) were accepted for recycling. However, the list of acceptable plastic items has expanded, and many municipal recycling programs can now recycle most plastic products regardless of their RIC.
To address consumer confusion and improve recyclability, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition in the U.S. has created a "How2Recycle" label. Rather than indicating the type of plastic resin, these labels focus on the recyclability of the product. The four "How2Recycle" labels indicate whether a plastic product is "Widely Recycled," "Limited," "Not Yet Recycled," or accepted through "Store Drop-Off" programs. This initiative aims to provide clearer guidance to consumers on how to recycle plastic products based on the availability of recycling programs in their area.
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Recyclable plastics in NYC
New York City's recycling system diverts a lot of waste from landfills every day, turning it into new products and materials. While the system is not perfect, many things are recyclable and valuable to those who make products from recycled materials.
The numbers printed inside the chasing triangle recycling symbol on various products do not indicate how recyclable something is. These numbers are resin identification codes, telling consumers what kind of plastic the item is made from. However, not all plastics are created equal, and not all carry a resin code.
In New York City, you can recycle metal, glass jars and bottles, rigid plastics, and cartons together in a labelled bin with a secure lid or a clear plastic bag. Rigid plastics are items that are relatively inflexible and maintain their shape or form when bent. This includes food and drink containers, caps and lids, cups and bowls, toys (with batteries removed), consumer packaging, and acetate boxes.
Beverage and liquid food cartons, like milk and soup cartons and juice boxes, can also be recycled. These are lined with a plastic film to be leak-proof, and the plastic layer can be removed and recycled. Plastic bags and film plastic—the kind used for bagging newspapers, ice, and dry cleaning—can be taken to large retailers and chain stores with at least five locations in the five boroughs to be recycled.
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Non-recyclable plastics in NYC
New York City's recycling system diverts a lot of waste from landfills daily, turning them into new products and materials. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has set aside a schedule for pickup to keep the city clean.
While the city accepts all kinds of rigid plastics for recycling (the recycling number on the package doesn't matter), some types of plastic are more widely recycled in the United States. These include plastics with the resin identification codes 1, 2, and 5.
Despite NYC's comprehensive recycling system, some items must be thrown in the trash as they cannot be recycled. These include:
- Drinking glasses, eyeglasses, mirrors, and light bulbs
- Plastic furniture and appliances with rechargeable batteries
- Plastic bags
- Plastic packaging and containers without resin identification codes
To recycle plastic items in NYC, rinse out the containers and place them in clear bags (13-55 gallons) or labeled recycling bins. Ensure the containers of plastic weigh less than 60 pounds.
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Plastic bags and film plastic
The New York State Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Act has been in effect since 2009, with amendments including film plastics coming into effect in 2015. This law requires stores with 10,000 square feet or more of retail space and retail chains operating five or more stores with greater than 5,000 square feet of retail space to establish an in-store film plastic recycling program. These stores must make collection bins for plastic bag and film plastic recycling available to customers in a visible and easily accessible location.
The owner of an enclosed shopping mall is also required to place recycling bins at reasonable intervals throughout the mall, and large mall stores (50,000 square feet or more of retail space) are required to establish their own plastic carry-out bag and film plastics recycling programs. Stores are prohibited from disposing of collected film plastics as solid waste and must ensure that they are recycled.
It is important to note that all materials must be clean, dry, and free of residue, and receipts should be removed. Compostable bags cannot be recycled in film plastics recycling bins or household recycling bins and must be labeled "COMPOSTABLE BAG - DO NOT PLACE IN RECYCLING BIN."
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Plastic furniture and appliances
In New York City, mostly-plastic furniture and appliances can be put out for recycling on your recycling day. However, it's important to remove or cut any cables, wires, and cords from these items and dispose of them in the trash.
It's worth noting that not all plastics are created equal when it comes to recyclability. The numbers inside the triangular recycling symbols on plastic items are resin identification codes and indicate the type of plastic the item is made from. While the recycling number on the package is not a factor in New York City, some categories of plastic are more widely recyclable in the United States, specifically types 1, 2, and 5.
When it comes to other recyclable materials in NYC, you can recycle metal, glass jars and bottles, rigid plastics, and cartons together in a labelled bin with a secure lid or a clear plastic bag. Empty and rinsed containers are preferred as they are easier to process and less attractive to rodents and roaches. All kinds of metal can be recycled, including aluminium foil and trays, metal caps and lids, empty aerosol and paint cans, wire hangers, pots and pans, and metal hardware. For glass, only jars and bottles can be recycled, while drinking glasses, eyeglasses, glass furniture, mirrors, and light bulbs must be thrown away.
Most rigid plastics can be recycled, including food and drink containers, caps and lids, cups and bowls, toys (after removing batteries), consumer packaging, and acetate boxes. Beverage and liquid food cartons, such as milk, soup, and juice containers, can also be recycled. However, it's important to separate the plastic layer from the paper and not recycle them together. While most items that cannot be recycled can be thrown in the trash, some materials must be disposed of separately.
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Frequently asked questions
The numbers on plastic recycling are resin identification codes, indicating the type of plastic the item is made from.
In NYC, you can recycle metal, glass jars and bottles, rigid plastics, and cartons together in a labelled bin with a secure lid or a clear plastic bag. Rigid plastics include food and drink containers, cups and bowls, toys, consumer packaging, and acetate boxes. Beverage and liquid food cartons like milk, soup cartons, and juice boxes can also be recycled.
No, the recycling number on the package does not matter.
Plastics with the resin identification codes 1, 2, and 5 are the most widely recyclable in the United States.
Metal, glass, and cartons can be recycled in NYC. Small appliances made mostly of metal or plastic without rechargeable batteries, such as microwaves, toasters, or electric kettles, can also be recycled.
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