Maya Ellison
There are seven unique types of plastic, and most of them can be recycled. However, some are recycled more than others. The most commonly recycled plastic is PET, which is used to make beverage bottles, food containers, and mouthwash. Other commonly recycled plastics include HDPE, which is used for milk jugs, detergent and oil bottles, and PP, which is used for disposable diapers, plastic bottle tops, and food containers. However, despite being recyclable, PP often ends up in landfills as it is difficult and expensive to recycle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most widely recycled plastic in the world | PET |
| PET recycling rate in the US | 31% |
| PET recycling rate in Europe | 52% |
| PET recycling rate in India | >50% |
| PET recycling rate in South Korea | >50% |
| PET recycling rate in China | <50% |
| PET recycling rate in 2011 | 7.5 million tons |
| PET recycled into | Fashion items, carpets, furniture, fiber for winter garments |
| Second most recycled plastic | HDPE |
| HDPE recycling rate in the US | 30% |
| HDPE used for | Milk bottles, laundry detergent, hair care products, cleaning supplies, non-food containers, crates |
| PP recycling rate in the US | 1-3% |
| PP recycled into | Landscaping border stripping, battery cases, brooms, bins, trays, plastic lumbers, park benches, auto parts, speed bumps |
| LDPE used for | Shrink wraps, dry cleaner garment bags, squeezable bottles, plastic bags, clothing, furniture |
| LDPE recycled | Rarely, but changing in many communities |
| PVC recycled into | Flooring, paneling, roadside gutters |
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What You'll Learn
PET/PETE is the most widely recycled plastic globally
Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET or PETE, is the most widely recycled plastic globally. It is a strong, stiff synthetic fibre and resin, and a member of the polyester family of polymers. PET is commonly used in applications such as mineral water bottles, carbonated beverage bottles, perishable food containers, and mouthwash. Clear PET plastics are generally considered safe, but they can absorb odours and flavours from the foods and liquids stored in them. They can also be dangerous if exposed to heat, such as when a water bottle is left in a hot car, as this can cause antimony to leach out of the plastic and into the liquid.
PET plastics are easily recyclable, and most recycling plants accept them. The recycling process involves collecting, sorting, cleaning, crushing, melting, and transforming the plastic into new products. The prime uses for recycled PET are polyester fibre, strapping, and non-food containers. Recycled PET is also used to create carpets, furniture, and fibre for winter garments. In 2016, the annual production of PET was 56 million tons, with bottle production accounting for about 30% of global demand.
PET is an excellent candidate for thermal disposal (incineration) due to its chemical composition of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with only trace amounts of other substances. It is also used in 3D printing, where it has become a popular material for high-end applications in various sectors, including surgical fracture tables and automotive and aeronautical parts. PET is also used as a liner material in type IV composite high-pressure gas cylinders, where it serves as an effective barrier to oxygen.
Despite being a relatively easy plastic to recycle, some countries are still struggling to achieve high recycling rates for PET. While India, Europe, and South Korea have PET recycling rates above 50%, other countries, such as the US and China, lag behind in their recycling efforts.
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HDPE is the most commonly recycled plastic in the US
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is one of the most commonly recycled plastic types in the US. It is a relatively simple and cost-effective process to recycle HDPE plastic for secondary use. HDPE is hard-wearing and resistant to sunlight and extreme temperatures, making it ideal for products that require durability and weather resistance.
HDPE is used in the production of milk jugs, detergent and oil bottles, toys, and some plastic bags. It is also used for non-food application bottles, such as those for motor oil and household cleaning products. In the US, the recycling rate for HDPE bottles is around 30%.
HDPE is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle, and it is accepted at most recycling centres worldwide. The primary markets for recycled HDPE include non-food application bottles and film packaging. However, it is important to note that only about 30-35% of HDPE plastic used in America is recycled each year, so it is advisable to minimise its use.
While HDPE is the most commonly recycled plastic in the US, other plastic types are also recycled, albeit in smaller quantities. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most widely recycled plastic globally, with countries like India, Europe, and South Korea achieving recycling rates above 50%. PET is commonly found in beverage bottles, perishable food containers, and mouthwash. It is easily recyclable, and most recycling plants accept it.
Other plastic types, such as polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS), are also recyclable but face lower recycling rates. PP is used in disposable diapers, plastic bottle tops, and food containers, while PS is found in beverage cups, packing materials, and disposable dinnerware. Despite being recyclable, these plastics often end up in landfills due to financial and technical barriers to recycling.
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PP is rarely recycled, despite being accepted by many recycling programs
Polypropylene (PP) is a recyclable thermoplastic polymer widely used in many products. It is hard, sturdy, and can withstand high temperatures. PP is one of the most popular plastic packaging materials globally, but only around 1-3% is recycled in the US. This means that most PP ends up in landfills, where it slowly degrades and takes around 20-30 years to completely decompose.
The primary challenge of PP recycling is increasing the rate of PP recycling while eliminating the dangerous impact of improper disposal. Recycling PP is difficult and expensive, and in many cases, it is hard to get rid of the smell of the product this plastic contained in its first life. Recycled PP usually ends up being black or grey, making it unsuitable for packaging use. For this reason, recycled PP is used for industrial applications such as plastic lumbers, park benches, auto parts, and speed bumps.
PP is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers, and many recycling programs do accept it. However, the primary challenge of PP recycling remains increasing the rate of recycling while also reducing the dangerous impact of improper disposal. PP can be recycled through some curbside recycling programs, but it is important to check with local curbside programs to see if they are accepting this material.
To recycle PP, the material must first be melted at around 250°C (500°F) to remove contaminant molecules. The second step involves removing residual molecules under vacuum and solidification at about 140°C (280°F). The products made from this process can be blended with virgin PP at a rate of up to 50%.
The demand for recycled PP in the marketplace is high, with a demand for 1 billion pounds of recycled PP annually in North America alone. Despite this, PP is one of the least recycled post-consumer plastics, with a rate below 1% for post-consumer recovery.
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LDPE is not commonly recycled, but this is changing
LDPE, or low-density polyethylene, is a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene. It is widely used, most commonly for plastic bags, but also for packaging films, carrier bags, shrink wraps, dry cleaner garment bags, squeezable bottles, and wire applications.
Despite its prevalence, LDPE is not widely recycled. In 2015, only 6.2% of LDPE generated that year was recycled, compared to 18.4% and 10.3% for plastics type #1 and #2 (PET and HDPE), respectively. This is due in part to the fact that LDPE is often contaminated, especially flexible products, and must go through a proper cleaning and sorting process before it can be recycled. This can be time-consuming, energy-intensive, and costly. Additionally, LDPE can be difficult to recycle with general recycling machines, as it can get stuck in their teeth and cause damage.
However, there are signs that LDPE recycling is becoming more common. Some communities are implementing plastic recycling programs that can handle LDPE, and there are companies, such as Miller Recycling, that accept LDPE for processing. The more rigid form of LDPE is also easier to recycle, and it can be transformed into bin liners and packaging films. LDPE is considered less toxic than other plastics and relatively safe for use.
Overall, while LDPE recycling has been challenging, there are positive steps being taken to increase its recyclability and reduce its environmental impact.
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PS/Styrofoam is difficult to recycle and unsafe
The most commonly recycled plastics are PET, HDPE, and PP. PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is the most widely recycled plastic globally, commonly found in beverage bottles, perishable food containers, and mouthwash. It is easily recyclable, and most recycling plants accept it. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is another commonly recycled plastic, deemed safe for food contact by the FDA. It is a stiff plastic used in milk jugs, detergent and oil bottles, toys, and some plastic bags. PP (Polypropylene), the third most common plastic, is hard, sturdy, and can withstand high temperatures. It is used in Tupperware, car parts, thermal vests, and disposable diapers. However, despite being recyclable, PP often ends up in landfills due to the financial costs and challenges of recycling it.
PS/Styrofoam, on the other hand, is difficult to recycle and unsafe. PS, or Polystyrene, was discovered in 1839 and is known for its lightweight, inexpensive, and easily formed properties. It is commonly used in beverage cups, insulation, packing materials, egg cartons, and disposable dinnerware. While PS/Styrofoam is technically recyclable, it is not generally accepted in curbside recycling programs due to its bulky nature, which makes collection and transportation challenging and expensive. Its lightweight and bulky characteristics, attributed to its composition of more than 90% air, mean that the environmental benefits of recycling PS/Styrofoam often do not outweigh the impacts of collection and transportation.
The recycling process for PS/Styrofoam requires specialized equipment to grind and compact it into a denser shape, which most recycling facilities lack. As a result, it must be taken to specific locations for densification, making it less accessible for consumers. Additionally, PS/Styrofoam is notorious for leaching harmful chemicals, especially when heated, posing safety concerns.
To address the challenges of recycling PS/Styrofoam, consumers can opt to reuse it for packaging or find drop-off locations that accept it for recycling. Some shipping stores, local governments, and recycling companies provide drop-off points specifically for foam packaging. However, it is important to note that Styrofoam should never be placed in a home recycling bin, as it can contaminate other recyclables and cause entire loads to be rejected.
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Frequently asked questions
The most widely recycled plastic in the world is PET, which is used to make bottles for soda, water, and other drinks. However, HDPE is also extremely common and is the most commonly recycled plastic in the US.
PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate) was first used in 1940 and is commonly found in beverage bottles, perishable food containers, and mouthwash. It is easily recyclable and most recycling plants accept it.
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is one of the newest types of plastic, having been first created in the 1950s. It is a stiff plastic used to make milk jugs, detergent and oil bottles, toys, and some plastic bags. It is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is considered one of the safest forms of plastic.
PP (Polypropylene) is commonly used for disposable diapers, plastic bottle tops, and food containers. It can be recycled, but only about 1-3% of PP products are currently being recycled in the US. PS (Polystyrene) or Styrofoam is also sometimes recycled but is unsafe due to the leaching of harmful chemicals.
