How to Recycle Number 5 Plastic Containers

Plastic takes up 35 percent of landfill space.

Plastics with the No. 5 symbol are polypropylene. Polypropylene is a sturdy plastic, capable of holding chemicals and grease. Polypropylene containers include margarine tubs, some yogurt containers, syrup and ketchup bottles, straws, bottle caps and lids and medicine bottles. Additionally, some automobile parts are polypropylene. Curbside recycling for No. 5 plastics is rare since this plastic is costly and difficult to recycle into other products. As a result, polypropylene usually ends up in landfills. Unrecycled plastic accounts for 35 percent of landfill space, according to West Virginia University. However, there are ways to recycle --- and reuse --- this plastic.

Instructions

1. Locate a recycling center in your area. Although you may not have curbside pickup for recyclables, local recycling centers may take polypropylene containers. If you don't know of a recycling center, call your local government's office, and someone there may be able to give you the name and phone number of a recycling center. Call the center and ask whether the center accepts No. 5 plastic containers.

2. Wash all polypropylene containers thoroughly. All recyclables must be cleaned before recycling.

3. Store polypropylene containers in an old shopping bag or a tote. When the bag is full, take the polypropylene to the recycling center.

4. Use wide-mouth polypropylene containers as plant pots for an alternative form of recycling. Punch a hole in the bottom of the container with a pen to allow water to drain from the plant's soil. Decorate the container any way you like and fill it with soil and a small plant.

5. Keep polypropylene containers for storage. Use them to store loose change, hardware such as spare nails or tacks, hair products such as barrettes and hair bands, beads for jewelry or pens and pencils.

Tips & Warnings

• If recycling for No. 5 plastic containers is not available in your area, look for alternative products in plastic No. 1, 2 or 3 containers.

• Save several bags of polypropylene to recycle if the recycling center you use is not local. Less-frequent trips will save gas money.

• The number and arrows symbol on most plastics, known as a resin code, does not indicate whether the plastic is recyclable or not. Rather, the resin code indicates the type of plastic in the container. Each numbered plastic melts at a different temperature, and the code indicates which temperature range is appropriate for each plastic.

References

• Nova Southeastern University: A Handy Guide to Recycling Symbols
• University of Houston: Plastics
• University of California Berkley: A Closer Look At Plastics
• West Virginia University: Projects of CFC - Recycling