Maya Ellison
The numbers on plastic products are resin identification codes that indicate the type of plastic compound the item is made of, not whether it can be recycled. In Toronto, the City offers no fees for blue bin collections to incentivize recycling. However, it is important to recycle correctly to avoid contamination at the waste management facility. While some sources state that Toronto recycles all items with a recycling symbol no matter the number, excluding black plastic and Styrofoam, others suggest that certain plastic types are tougher to recycle and are not universally accepted. These include plastics #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7, which may require more complex processes for breaking down polymers.
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What You'll Learn
Toronto accepts plastics with the numbers 1, 2, and 5 for recycling
Plastics with the numbers 1 and 2 are the most commonly recycled types of plastic. Number 1 plastic, or Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is a clear, hard plastic often used for single-use food and drink containers like water bottles. It can be recycled into new products such as fibres for carpets, tote bags, and clothing. Number 2 plastic, or High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted by most recycling programs worldwide. It is frequently used for non-food item bottles like shampoo, soaps, and cleaners.
Number 5 plastic, or Polypropylene (PP), is accepted for recycling in Toronto but is one of the least recycled types of plastic overall, with only about 1% of it being recycled. Items made from PP include bottle caps, straws, and medicine bottles. The low recycling rate of PP is due to the complex, five-step recycling process it requires, which includes separating, cleaning, and reprocessing by melting at high temperatures.
In addition to numbers 1, 2, and 5, Toronto also accepts other types of plastics for recycling. However, it is always important to separate different types of plastics to avoid affecting the value and quality of the recycled material. For example, clear plastic films should be separated from coloured or printed films, and PVC products must be separated from other plastics due to their high chlorine content and hazardous additives.
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Number 3 plastics are difficult to recycle and sell
Toronto's recycling program accepts plastics with a recycling symbol, regardless of the number, except for black plastic and Styrofoam. However, it is important to note that the recycling symbol on plastic products does not always indicate that a product can be recycled. The number within the symbol is a resin identification code, indicating the type of resin used to produce the plastic.
Number 3 plastics, along with numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7, are generally tougher to recycle and are not always accepted by local recycling programs. Number 3 plastics, or PVC, are soft and flexible, and are used in a wide range of household products, such as plastic tubing, children's toys, plastic trays, and furniture. While technically recyclable, they are not accepted by most consumer recyclers.
PVC products have a high chlorine content, as well as high levels of hazardous additives, which can make them challenging to recycle. They require separation from other plastics, and even after recycling, they may have reduced resilience and impact resistance compared to newly manufactured PVC.
Additionally, the value of recycled PVC can be affected by several factors. For instance, if the PVC is not properly separated from other types of plastic, its value may decrease. The process of recycling PVC also requires specialized handling, which can be costly for recycling companies. As a result, it may not be economically viable for recycling companies to accept and process PVC products.
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Number 4 plastics are soft, flexible plastics
Plastic recycling is a complex process. The presence of a resin code, often found within a small triangle made of arrows, does not necessarily indicate that a product is recyclable. The number within the triangle is what matters, as each number corresponds to a different type of plastic.
Number 4 plastics, or Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE), are soft and flexible plastics. LDPE is commonly used in packaging, as it is tough, flexible, and relatively transparent. It is used to make condiment bottles, plastic bottle tops, plastic wrap, and garbage bags. LDPE is also used in electrical insulation, adhesives, sealants, and injection moulding. It is important to note that while LDPE is recyclable, some curbside recycling programs may only accept rigid LDPE and not the flexible or soft forms.
In Toronto, it is recommended to separate plastic film, such as clear film from coloured or printed film, before recycling. Additionally, soft plastics should not be placed in curbside recycling bins as they can cause issues at processing plants. Instead, soft LDPE plastics can be recycled at specialist soft plastic recycling drop-off locations.
It is always important to check with local authorities to confirm which plastic materials can be recycled in your community.
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Number 6 plastics are tough to recycle
The City of Toronto accepts all items with a recycling symbol, no matter the number, except for black plastic and Styrofoam. However, Number 6 plastics are tough to recycle. Number 6 plastics are made from polystyrene (PS), which is commonly used for disposable coffee cups, packing peanuts, coolers, and to-go food containers. Polystyrene is not generally recyclable and accounts for about 35% of US landfill material. It breaks apart easily, often ending up inside marine animals' stomachs and on beaches. It has also been linked to human health and reproductive system dysfunction.
The recycling symbol found on plastic products does not indicate that a product can be recycled. The number is a resin identification code that tells you what kind of plastic the material is made of. Plastics #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 are generally tougher to recycle and are not universally collected in local recycling programs.
In Toronto, the Waste Wizard should be consulted to determine whether a plastic product can be recycled. It is important to note that not all plastics are accepted in local recycling programs, and some hard-to-process plastic products, like Styrofoam, are not viable for some recycling companies to take.
To avoid the negative environmental and health impacts of Number 6 plastics, it is recommended to swap out plastic products for reusable options, such as glass food storage containers and metal straws.
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Number 7 plastics are the least desirable type to recycle
The City of Toronto recycles all items with a recycling symbol, no matter the number, except for black plastic and Styrofoam. However, the City's Waste Wizard tool shows that Keurig coffee cups, for example, should be placed in the general garbage bin. This is because the recycling symbol and number are not a good guide for whether an item is accepted by the City's recycling program.
Plastics are typically stamped with a resin identification code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The number corresponds to a different type of plastic, with #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) being the most commonly recycled plastics. HDPE is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted worldwide.
Plastics #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 are generally tougher to recycle and are not universally collected by local recycling programs. #7 plastics are the least desirable type to recycle because they are made of multiple plastic types or other types of plastic that are difficult to recycle. They are often a mixture of various plastics, including compostable ones, which makes it very challenging to know their exact composition.
Products made with mixed plastics are difficult to recycle conventionally. For instance, polystyrene, which is often used for disposable Styrofoam cups, takeout containers, and packing peanuts, is not generally recyclable and accounts for a large proportion of landfill material. It breaks apart easily, which is why it is often found inside marine animals' stomachs and on beaches.
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Frequently asked questions
The recycling symbol found on plastic products does not indicate that a product is necessarily recyclable or recycled. The number is a resin identification code that tells you what kind of plastic the material is made of.
Toronto offers no fees for blue bin collections to incentivize businesses and landlords to reduce their solid waste collection fees. Plastics #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) are the most commonly recycled plastics and are accepted in Toronto. Plastics #3, #4, #5, #6 and #7 are generally tougher to recycle and are not universally collected in local recycling programs.
Plastic #1: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a clear, hard plastic generally used as a single-use food and drink container (water bottles, vegetable oil, etc).
HDPE is accepted worldwide because it is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. It is frequently used for bottles for non-food items like shampoo, soaps, and cleaners.
