How to Go Green: Understanding Recycling Plastics

Recycling can make you feel like a saint: it's good for the environment, after all. But while your local recycling center accepts all kind of glass containers, it probably accepts only certain kinds of plastics. There is a reason for this: plastics are made up of different chemical structures, and some simply cannot be combined. The trick is understanding the numbers, usually printed beneath the item, outlined in a triangle.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Patience!

1. #1 PET UNDERSTANDING #1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate). This is a very popular form of plastic. You'll find #1 PET commonly in coke bottles; it is a strong and rather inexpensive plastic. PET can be recycled into carpets and T-shirts and even shopping bags (which cannot be recycled themselves.) Please note, though for some reason or other, that recycle plants prefer "narrow-neck" PET bottles.
2. #2 HDPE UNDERSTANDING #2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene). Another commonly recycled product, HDPE compromises of "cloudy-looking" milk and water containers, hair care products and liquid detergent. It is also found in toys. HDPE that is clear is great: it can be recycled back into new products of its former self. Colored HDPE, which you see as detergent and shampoo/conditioner bottles, usually becomes plastic lumber.
3. #3 V UNDERSTANDING #3 V or PVC (Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride). You find this as clear food packaging and plastic "cling" wraps, as well as plumbing pipes. It can be either very stiff or elastic. Note however that it generally too expensive for plants to recycle #3V is cost-prohibitive because there is simply not enough of it, so these products are usually rejected.
4. LDPE UNDERSTANDING #4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene). This is a very elastic form of plastic. It is made into all kinds of plastic bags. When you recycle LDPE, it can made into new bags or plastic lumber. However, because it is so lightweight, hauling it in for recycling produces more energy than producing a new one. Unless a recycling factory is close, most LDPE ends up be tossed out and ends up in a landfull.
5. #5 PP UNDERSTANDING #5 PP (Polypropylene). You'll find PP into yogurt and other like food containers; it also usually is the tops of bottles. There is usually not enough of it, like #3V, so it is cost-prohibitive and usually rejected.
6. #6 PS UNDERSTANDING #6 PS (Polystyrene). This is a plastic you should avoid. You'll find its solid form in CD jackets, those plastic eating utensils, and take-out food containers. Its expanded version is better known: Styrofoam (think egg containers and coffee cups and those plastic "peanuts" in packaging) and it is completely unrecyclable. It ends up in the landfill and takes forever to breakdown.
7. #7 OTHER UNDERSTANDING #7 OTHER. This compromises of any plastic that does not belong to any of above categories, such as resins and mixed plastics. AVOID IT all costs!

Tips & Warnings

• Also clean out your recycling-- you don't want to contaminate the machines at the recycling facility. If it's impossible to clean, just toss it out.
• Generally, a good rule of thumb is the higher the number, the more likely it will have a second life!
• NEVER toss an aluminum can into the mix, unless stated otherwise by your local facility. Aluminum is made up of a different chemical matter and won't mix with plastics.