Chloe Zhang
Plastic bags, bottles, and containers are a few examples of plastic products that can be recycled. However, the recycling process and requirements may vary depending on the type of plastic and your location. It is important to check with your local recycling program about specific guidelines, such as whether to remove caps from bottles or what types of plastic resins are accepted. In general, it is recommended to clean plastic items and remove any residue or contaminants, such as food or stickers, to ensure effective recycling without contaminating other materials. Recycling plastic is crucial because it does not biodegrade; it can take hundreds of years for plastic bags and bottles to decompose in landfills. By recycling plastic, we can save energy and resources, as recycled plastic requires less energy to process than virgin materials and can be used to create new products like lumber, decking, and even clothing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic bag recycling process | Plastic bags are chipped into pellets, then reprocessed into new bags or shipped to a company to be manufactured into plastic lumber |
| Plastic bag recycling benefits | Recycling a ton of plastic bags saves 11 barrels of oil; recycling saves 66% of energy over using virgin material |
| Plastic bag recycling collection | Widely available through collection bins at grocery stores |
| Plastic bag recycling preparation | Remove anything inside the bags, such as receipts, stickers, or crumbs; keep a bag collection bin in the house |
| Plastic bottle recycling preparation | Rinse bottles and jugs before recycling; check with the local program whether to keep caps on or if caps are accepted |
| Plastic recycling identification | Recycling centers use optical scanners to identify the type of plastic resin, separating #1 and #2 plastics from each other and other materials |
| Plastic recycling contamination | Ensure plastics are clean to avoid contaminating other materials; contaminated materials cannot be recycled |
| Plastic recycling in B.C., Canada | Recycle B.C. claims to have a good system and end markets for recycled materials, with less than 1% of total plastic collected going overseas |
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What You'll Learn
Retail and grocery stores
Plastic bags, wraps, and films cannot be recycled in most curbside recycling bins. Instead, they can be returned to retail and grocery stores for recycling. For example, in Franklin County, plastic bags can be recycled at a large number of locations, but they must not be put in household curbside recycling bins or SWACO recycling drop-off locations.
Most plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene (#2 plastic), but the thinner-material bags (such as produce bags) are made from low-density polyethylene (#4 plastic). The recycling collection system is widely available, mostly through collection bins at grocery stores. It is important to make sure that any bags you are recycling have a #2 or #4 plastic symbol on them. If not, you cannot be sure what plastic resin the bag is made from, so you should reuse it instead, before eventually throwing it away.
Before recycling plastic bags, ensure they are empty of any receipts, stickers, or crumbs, as these will contaminate your bag load. Plastic bag recycling involves chipping the bags into pellets, which can then be reprocessed into new bags. However, they will most likely be shipped to a company to be manufactured into plastic lumber.
Some plastics, such as chip bags, granola bar wrappers, plastic film, plastic cutlery, and Styrofoam, are now accepted in the Hefty ReNew bag. Additionally, flexible polyethylene-based plastics, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE, or #2 plastic) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE, or #4 plastic), can be recycled through the How2Recycle Store Drop-off program.
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Curbside collection
In general, most plastic bottles and containers are accepted by curbside recycling programs. It is recommended to rinse your bottles and jugs before placing them in the bin, as this helps prevent sugar residue from attracting insects and causing odors. Some programs may also have specific instructions regarding plastic lids or caps, so be sure to check if they should be removed or kept on the bottles.
It's worth noting that some curbside recycling services accept bulky plastics, such as plastic playsets, laundry baskets, and furniture. However, this may not be the case everywhere, so it's important to verify with your local service. Additionally, plastic bags are recyclable, but they are often collected separately at locations like grocery stores. Before recycling plastic bags, ensure they are empty and free from any contaminants, such as receipts or crumbs.
The process of recycling plastic items collected through curbside programs involves sorting, shredding, washing, melting, and repurposing. Initially, the collected materials are sorted by hand to separate different types of plastics and other recyclables. Then, the plastics are shredded into flakes, washed, and melted into pellets. These pellets are sold to manufacturers to create new products, such as plastic bottles, containers, or other plastic items.
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Drop-off points
If you're looking for drop-off points to recycle your plastic, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you can explore community directories or local municipality resources, which can provide valuable information on specific drop-off points near you. These sources can guide you towards convenient options that you might not have otherwise considered.
Another option is to seek out specialised plastic film recycling drop-off points at major retailers. For instance, Walmart, Target, and Kroger offer these services at their stores across North America. By bringing your clean and dry plastic bags, bread bags, and wraps to these locations, you can ensure they're properly recycled and given a new lease of life.
Additionally, TerraCycle offers a dedicated network of drop-off points for hard-to-recycle items. You can locate these drop-off points on their website and simply drop off your accepted waste. A volunteer administrator will then ensure it reaches TerraCycle for recycling. Remember, the administrators manage the location, hours, and accepted waste streams, so it's always a good idea to check with them if you have any questions or suggestions.
Lastly, keep an eye out for the How2Recycle Store Drop-off label on flexible polyethylene-based plastics. This label indicates that the plastic can be recycled at specific store drop-off locations. Just ensure that any plastic coming into contact with food or residue is thoroughly cleaned and dried before dropping it off.
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Recycling instructions
Firstly, check the item for a How2Recycle label, which will provide detailed disposal instructions. If the item has been in contact with food or another product that may leave residue, ensure it is clean and dry before recycling. A simple wipe with a dry cloth will do. This is important to prevent contamination of other materials.
If you are recycling plastic bags, some out-of-home recycling points will accept these. Retail and grocery stores often accept plastic bags for recycling. If necessary, cut off sealable zippers from sandwich bags before recycling.
For plastic film, check your local municipality for information on what is accepted in your area. You can recycle these in your curbside or drop-off bins.
For other plastic items, check with your local recycling program to find out which types of plastic they accept. You can recycle beverage and liquid food cartons, such as milk, soup cartons, and juice boxes, as well as metal, glass, and cartons together in a labeled bin with a secure lid or a clear plastic bag.
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Plastic types
Plastic is a synthetic or semisynthetic material that uses polymers as its main ingredient. There are hundreds of types of plastic, but only a handful are commonly used. Plastic is usually labelled with a number from 1 to 7, with numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 being commonly recycled. The numbers are part of the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system, which was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988 to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics.
#1 PET
PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is one of the most commonly used plastics. It is lightweight, strong, and typically transparent, making it ideal for food packaging, beverage bottles, and fabrics (polyester). Examples include food bottles and jars (e.g. salad dressing, peanut butter, honey), polyester clothing, and rope.
#2 HDPE
High-density polyethylene is a common type of plastic used for milk cartons, detergent bottles, cereal box liners, toys, buckets, and pipes. It is strong and resistant to moisture and chemicals. Plastic bags are often made from this type of plastic and are recycled by chipping them into pellets, which can then be made into new bags or plastic lumber.
#4 LDPE
Low-density polyethylene is used for thinner plastic bags, such as produce bags. These bags can be recycled, but it is important to ensure they are empty and free of contaminants such as receipts, stickers, or crumbs.
#5 PP
PP, or polypropylene, is resistant to fatigue, making it ideal for living hinges (thin pieces of plastic that allow a product to fold or bend). It is also commonly used for plastic containers, such as yoghurt pots, and some straws.
#6 Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a rigid, low-cost plastic that insulates well. It is often used in the food, packaging, and construction industries for items such as beverage cups, insulation, packing materials, egg cartons, and disposable dinnerware. It is highly flammable and can leach harmful chemicals, especially when heated, making it dangerous and environmentally unfriendly.
#7 Polycarbonates
Polycarbonates are strong and tough, commonly used for eye protection, lenses, mobile phones, and compact discs. They have been controversial due to their potential to leach bisphenol A (BPA), a compound listed as a potential environmental hazard.
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Frequently asked questions
Most grocery stores have plastic bag recycling collection bins. Make sure the bags have a #2 or #4 plastic symbol on them. If not, you can’t be sure what plastic resin the bag is made from, so consider reusing it before throwing it away.
Remove anything inside the bags, such as receipts, stickers, or crumbs. These items will contaminate your bag load. Keep a bag collection bin in your house, such as one big garbage bag for all bags. Since they compact easily, you should be able to fit 50 to 100 plastic bags in one garbage bag.
Recycling centers use optical scanners to identify the type of plastic resin. The bags are then chipped into pellets, which can be reprocessed into new bags or manufactured into plastic lumber.
