Chloe Zhang
Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, and while almost all plastic can be recycled in theory, the reality is that various economic, technical, and environmental barriers exist. Recycling programs vary from community to community, and it is essential to check with your local recycler or municipal recycling coordinator to understand the specific guidelines and accepted materials in your area. Some common types of plastics that are widely recycled include PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PP, but the acceptance of these plastics for recycling can differ between locations. Checking local resources, such as community websites or distributed information, is crucial to understanding the recycling practices in your specific region.
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs
In Middlesex County, New Jersey, plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs of 1 gallon or less are accepted for recycling. This includes items such as water, soda, and juice bottles, as well as mayonnaise jars, yogurt tubs, and milk jugs. It is important to check with your local program about specific guidelines for rinsing and whether to keep the caps on or off.
In Jersey City, only #1, #2, and #5 plastics are accepted for recycling. It is important to separate your plastics according to the resin identification code, which can usually be found on the item. Most bottles and jugs are #1 or #2 plastic (PET or HDPE, respectively), which are widely accepted by curbside recycling programs.
To prepare plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs for recycling, it is generally recommended to rinse them to remove any remnants, as these can attract insects and generate odors. Some programs may require you to reattach the caps to prevent them from falling off during transportation, while others may ask you not to include the caps to ensure the containers are empty and to avoid damaging the recycling machinery.
It is worth noting that certain plastic items previously containing hazardous materials, such as motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, or fertilizers, should be disposed of in the trash rather than recycled. Additionally, plastic takeout containers or tubs that did not hold dairy products are also not accepted for recycling in some areas.
Always remember to check with your local recycling guidelines to ensure you are following the specific requirements for your area.
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Plastic bags and film
To recycle your plastic bags and film, ensure they are clean, dry, and free of residue. Receipts should also be removed. Then, locate a store that collects film plastics for recycling. Many retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Home Depot, now accept plastic bags, wraps, and other film packaging for recycling.
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Different types of plastic
Plastic is one of the most complex materials to recycle. While almost all plastic can be recycled in principle, in practice, there are several barriers that can undermine this process. For example, products made from multiple types of plastic or layers of different materials can be difficult and costly to separate, making them unsuitable for recycling.
There are seven different types of plastic used around the world, each with unique properties and applications. These types are identified by resin codes, which are numbers between one and seven inside a small triangle of arrows. These codes indicate the type of plastic used, but do not necessarily mean that the product can be recycled.
- PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate): This plastic is commonly used for soda bottles, water bottles, and other food packaging. It is transparent, lightweight, and durable, making it a desirable substitute for glass. PET is highly recyclable and is often reused for bottles or polyester fibers.
- HDPE: HDPE stands for High-Density Polyethylene, and it is the plastic used for milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, and other similar containers. It is 100% recyclable and can be recycled into plastic lumber, tables, benches, and other durable products.
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): PVC is a strong and diverse plastic that can be rigid or flexible. It is used in a wide range of applications, from building materials like pipes, fittings, and hoses to packaging for food and personal care products. However, PVC is highly toxic to process and is not currently recyclable through standard recycling programs.
- LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene): LDPE is a thinner and more flexible type of plastic commonly used for packaging, including plastic bags, bubble wrap, and film wrap for food. Technically, LDPE can be recycled, but it is often excluded from curbside recycling programs due to the risk of tangling in recycling machinery.
- PP (Polypropylene): PP is used for food containers like yogurt tubs, sour cream tubs, and margarine tubs, as well as straws, rope, and bottle caps. PP is recyclable, but it is not widely recycled due to the financial and technical challenges of processing it.
It is important to note that the recyclability of these plastics may vary depending on your location and the guidelines of your local waste management systems. Additionally, the shape of a plastic container can also impact its recyclability, with containers having a neck smaller than the base, like milk jugs, being more commonly recyclable.
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Local recycling rules
Recycling rules vary from community to community, so it is important to check your local area's specific guidelines. You can do this by searching for your community's recycling website or checking distributed information. Some areas may also provide phone numbers for you to call to find out more about your local pickup schedule and setout requirements.
In general, plastic products are often stamped with a resin code, a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The number inside the triangle corresponds to a different type of plastic, and each type has different recyclability. For example, Types 1 and 2 plastics, such as PET or PETE, which are used for soda bottles and water bottles, are widely accepted in standard recycling bins. HDPE plastics, used for milk jugs and shampoo bottles, are also commonly accepted for recycling. LDPE plastics, used for grocery bags and plastic wrappings, may sometimes be recycled.
However, it is important to note that some plastic types may not be permitted in your bin, depending on your local rules. For instance, plastic bags should not be placed in curbside recycling bins as they can get tangled in the machinery at recycling facilities. Instead, plastic bags can be reused or placed in regular garbage bins. Additionally, some plastics, like Styrofoam, shrink wrap, and manufacturing scrap, require specialized handling and may not be accepted in standard recycling programs.
While almost all plastic can theoretically be recycled, financial, environmental, and technical barriers can make it impractical in certain cases. For example, polypropylene recycling is challenging and costly, and the recycled product often ends up with limited use cases due to its color and residual smell. Similarly, plastics with multiple types of plastic or layers can be difficult to separate and recycle.
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Plastic recycling rates
In contrast, the UK recycles about 17% of its annual plastic waste. The recycling of specific plastic containers, such as PET bottles and jars, and HDPE natural bottles, has shown higher rates, reaching 29.1% and 29.3%, respectively, in 2018. Nevertheless, the overall amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, with 8.7% of the 8.9 million tons of plastic generated in 2018 being recycled.
On a local level, recycling rates and accepted plastics depend on the practices of private recycling facility operators in the area. For instance, in Jersey City, only #1, #2, and #5 plastics are accepted for recycling, while other types, like plastic wrap, are not. In Middlesex County, New Jersey, plastic bags and films are not accepted in curbside recycling bins as they can cause tangles in the machinery at recycling facilities. Instead, residents are encouraged to reuse plastic bags or dispose of them in the regular garbage.
To improve plastic recycling rates and address plastic pollution, efforts by consumers, brands, and governments are crucial. The EPA has released the "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution" to eliminate plastic pollution in the environment. Standardization of recycling practices and financial support for recycling facilities to improve their sorting and acceptance of materials are also important steps toward increasing recycling rates and protecting the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
The seven types of plastic are PET or PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and Resin. The most widely recycled plastic in the world is PET, which is used for plastic bottles. Other recyclable plastics include HDPE, LDPE, and PP, but they are not always accepted by local municipalities.
The types of plastics that are recyclable in your area vary from community to community. You can check your community's recycling website or contact your local recycler to find out what types of plastic are accepted.
It is important to check with your local recycler or municipal recycling coordinator to see what plastics are not accepted in your area. Some areas do not accept plastic bags or film in curbside recycling bins, as they can get tangled in the machinery.
Hard-to-recycle plastics include Styrofoam, shrink wrap, and manufacturing scrap, which require specialized handling. Additionally, plastics numbered 6 and 7 are never recycled due to the difficulty of separating and processing multiple types of plastic.
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