How to Recycle Plastic Bottles & Cups
People in America buy almost 30 billion plastic water bottles per year, according to Earth911. Then there are all the plastic bottles used for shampoo, soap and food products. Plastic cups are often made with the same materials. Earth911 also estimates that recycling a plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a lightbulb for hours. Recycling plastic bottles and cups is easy, and it's one of the simplest ways you can help the environment. For an added bonus, buy a reusable plastic or glass water bottle to cut back on your consumption. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Check the bottom of each bottle and cup for a small triangle made of arrows. Inside you'll see a number anywhere from one to seven. Almost all plastic bottles of any kind are a one or a two, and cups will probably also be a one or a two.
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Clean all the bottles and cups in the sink to make sure there's no food or other residue, as it can damage the recycling once it's melted, contaminating the process.
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Place every bottle and cup marked with a one or a two into your recycling bin and put it at the curbside. If you don't have curbside recycling, or if you have other numbers between three and seven, take the plastics to your local recycling center. Call ahead for their hours and policies so you can plan accordingly.
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References
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- Photo Credit Jim Franco/Digital Vision/Getty Images
