Alexei Volkov
Plastic is everywhere, and while recycling any material is fundamental to protecting the environment, less than 10% of plastic waste has ever been recycled. Plastic can take up to 1000 years to biodegrade, so recycling plastic can conserve natural resources and energy. However, plastic recycling is complex, and consumers often don't know which types can be disposed of and how. To help you understand which plastics can be recycled, this article will explain the seven plastic recycling symbols and their recyclability.
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What You'll Learn
- PET/PETE plastic is recyclable and can be found in water bottles and soda bottles
- HDPE plastic is safe to use and fully recyclable, commonly found in milk jugs and detergent containers
- PVC plastic is non-recyclable and used for plastic food wrapping and soft household products
- LDPE plastic is used for plastic bags and grocery bags, it is hard to recycle
- Polypropylene plastic is recyclable but not widely accepted, found in margarine and yoghurt containers
PET/PETE plastic is recyclable and can be found in water bottles and soda bottles
PET, or PETE, is a type of plastic that is recyclable. It is the most widely recycled plastic in the United States, with billions of PET bottles being collected and recycled every year. This is due to its highly recyclable nature, as well as its performance qualities. It is a clear, durable, and versatile plastic, with a low melting temperature, making it easy and sustainable to recycle.
PET plastic is commonly used in water bottles and soda bottles, as well as other beverage bottles. It is perfect for closed-loop recycling, a process that creates new versions of the same product after it has been used. This reduces the net utilisation of valuable resources, such as crude oil. The recycled PET (rPET) is highly sought after and can be used to make new bottles, as well as many other products such as clothing, playground equipment, and dog beds.
The process of recycling PET bottles involves sorting, collecting, and taking them to a recycling plant. At the plant, the bottles are separated from other recyclable materials, and then the non-plastic waste is removed. The PET bottles are then compressed for ease of transport and sent to a processing centre. At the centre, the bottles are ground into small flakes, washed to remove contaminants, and then converted into a high-temperature decontamination section. The recycled PET is then sent to manufacturers to be used in the packaging industry, completing the bottle-to-bottle loop.
It is important to note that while PET bottles are recyclable, they are intended for single-use applications. Repeated use increases the risk of leaching and bacterial growth, and it can be challenging to remove harmful chemicals. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid reusing PET containers and to recycle them instead.
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HDPE plastic is safe to use and fully recyclable, commonly found in milk jugs and detergent containers
Plastic is everywhere, and recycling it is one of the most complex processes. Less than 10% of plastic waste generated worldwide has ever been recycled, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. One of the barriers to recycling plastic is a lack of awareness about the seven plastic recycling symbols, each of which represents a different type of plastic and has distinct recycling instructions.
HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially in packaging. It has a low risk of leaching and is easily recyclable into many types of goods. It is commonly found in milk jugs, detergent containers, and other similar products. HDPE is safe for use and fully recyclable. It is one of the safest plastics to use. It is also one of the most widely used packaging resins due to its toughness, natural UV barrier properties, and chemical resistance.
HDPE is easily injection-molded, blow-molded, or otherwise processed into a bottle, canister, pail, tub, squeeze tube, or closure. It is a famous material, considered very versatile due to its various qualities. It is a preferred material in multiple applications due to its strength, impact resistance, corrosion resistance, and chemical profile. HDPE is widely used in corrosion-resistant piping, sheets, stock materials, fuel tanks, and food and beverage containers. It is also used in medical tubing, films, connectors, lab ware, catheters, IV bags, face masks, device housings, membranes, and drug delivery components packaging.
HDPE can be recycled and used to fabricate sustainable products, reducing environmental degradation. It is also cost-effective, balancing performance and affordability. However, it is important to note that HDPE safety depends on its intended use and final form. While HDPE is generally safe, safety precautions are necessary during production to prevent risks associated with inhaling dust and vapors.
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PVC plastic is non-recyclable and used for plastic food wrapping and soft household products
Plastic is everywhere, and while recycling is the best step to prevent plastic from ending up in landfills or harming marine life, it is one of the most complex processes. Less than 10% of plastic waste generated worldwide has ever been recycled. One of the barriers to recycling plastic is a lack of awareness around the seven plastic recycling symbols, each of which represents a different type of plastic and distinct recycling instructions.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a soft and flexible plastic that is used for a huge array of household products, including plastic tubing, kids' toys, plastic trays, and furniture. It is also used for plastic food wrapping, which is a thin plastic film that helps seal and secure food items in containers, keeping them fresh for longer.
PVC products, unfortunately, cannot be recycled. Most consumer recyclers will not take PVC products, and they should be avoided for reuse, especially when it comes to food or children's use. This is because PVC contains toxins that leach throughout their entire life cycle. PVC has earned the moniker "poison plastic" in the food industry due to its propensity for leaching chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which have the potential to negatively impact your health.
However, it is important to note that solutions are being developed to effectively separate these compounds from PVC recyclates. For example, food-safe PVC (or uPVC, which stands for unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) is said to be produced without the use of these toxic chemicals and is easily recycled and reused.
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LDPE plastic is used for plastic bags and grocery bags, it is hard to recycle
LDPE, or low-density polyethylene, is a type of plastic commonly used for plastic bags, grocery bags, bread bags, food wrappings, garbage bags, and sandwich bags. While LDPE is very widely used, it is not widely recycled, which is an issue that affects the environment. LDPE is often flexible, transparent, oil-resistant, chemical-resistant, and tough, making it ideal for many applications. However, its flexibility can also make it more difficult to recycle, as it tends to tangle in standard recycling machinery.
LDPE is known as plastic type #4 and can be identified by the number "4" on the product. It is one of the seven types of plastics, each with its own recycling instructions and complexities. LDPE is technically recyclable, but the process is complex and often requires specialized handling. LDPE can be recycled into products such as garbage cans, manufactured lumber, and new bags. However, the recycling process is time-consuming and may not be financially worthwhile for recycling companies.
The low recycling rate of LDPE has led to a significant amount of waste. In 2015, only 6.2% of LDPE generated that year was recycled, compared to higher recycling rates for plastics type #1 (18.4%) and #2 (10.3%). This low recycling rate contributes to environmental issues, as plastic bags pollute oceans and other wild habitats, posing threats to wildlife.
To address the issue of LDPE waste, some grocery stores and businesses have implemented collection bins where customers can return used bags for proper recycling. Additionally, individuals can participate in grocery store drop-off programs and reuse LDPE items, such as plastic containers, to extend their usefulness. Proper disposal and recycling of LDPE are crucial to reducing its environmental impact.
While LDPE plastic is commonly used for bags and wrappings, its low recycling rate poses a challenge. The complexity of the recycling process and the need for specialized handling contribute to the difficulty in recycling LDPE. Efforts by stores and individuals to properly recycle LDPE are essential to mitigate its environmental impact.
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Polypropylene plastic is recyclable but not widely accepted, found in margarine and yoghurt containers
Plastic is one of the most complicated materials to recycle. Consumers often don't know which types can be disposed of and how. This is due to the lack of awareness around the seven plastic recycling symbols, each of which represents a different type of plastic with distinct recycling instructions.
Polypropylene (PP) plastic is considered safe for reuse and is recyclable. However, many recyclers still don't accept it. It is used in margarine and yoghurt containers, potato chip bags, cereal bags, and more.
The recent push to make polypropylene "widely recyclable" started with a separate industry group called the Recycling Partnership, a nonprofit whose board of directors includes executives for major brands and plastic industry groups. In 2020, a few months after How2Recycle downgraded PP products to only be eligible for the "Check Locally" label, the Recycling Partnership launched a new initiative to "ensure the long-term viability of polypropylene."
How2Recycle now considers a wide range of products made from polypropylene to be "widely recyclable," meaning that more than 60% of Americans have access to a curbside or drop-off recycling programme that accepts them. However, industry experts and environmental advocates disagree, stating that polypropylene recycling isn't as widespread as How2Recycle's labeling implies. They argue that the "widely recyclable" label should reflect a material's acceptance by curbside and drop-off recycling programmes, which is not printed on the organisation's unconditional recycling labels.
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Frequently asked questions
The seven types of plastic are categorized using a resin code, a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The lower the number, the more likely the plastic is to be easily recyclable. Type 1 and Type 2 plastics are generally accepted by standard recycling bins. HDPE, or Type 2 plastics, are considered safe for reuse and can be recycled through most curbside recycling programs. Type 7 plastics, on the other hand, are generally not recycled.
Type 1 plastics, or PET/PETE, are commonly used for soda bottles, water bottles, and other food containers. These plastics can be recycled and are often transformed into fashion items, such as polar fleece clothing, backpacks, and carpets. However, it is recommended to avoid reusing PET containers due to the risk of leaching and bacterial growth.
Type 7 plastics include polycarbonate, which is a clear, hard plastic that has raised health concerns due to its potential as a hormone disruptor. Type 7 plastics are generally not recycled, and it is recommended to avoid using them, especially when microwaving food or beverages.
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