Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Call your county's Department of Public Works or recycling center to determine what type of plastic to recycle and where to take it. Also call 1-800-CLEANUP for state recycling information.
Step2
Rinse and sort your plastic containers by number. Recyclable plastic often must be separated by number in order to avoid contamination as it begins the recycling process.
Step3
Recycle type 1 (PETE) and type 2 (HDPE) plastic containers at your curb, according to local instructions. Type 1 and 2 containers include some plastic bags, detergent containers, and milk, soft drink, juice, cooking oil and water bottles.
Step4
Drop off plastic grocery bags - usually type 4 (LDPE), sometimes type 2, though not always marked - at your grocery store to be recycled. Most large chain grocery stores will have bins located in the store. Types 2 and 4 can be mixed most of the time, but read the signs first to be sure. Clean out bags before recycling.
Step5
Call the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, (410) 451-8340, or visit their Web site to find a local recycling center in your area that will take foam packaging (type 6, Expanded Polystyrene or EPS). Other type 6 items such as plastic utensils will most likely need to be thrown out.
Step6
Throw out types 3 (plastic food wrap and vegetable oil bottles), 5 (yogurt containers, syrup bottles, diapers, some bags, most bottle tops and some food wrap) and 7 (layered or mixed plastic). While some of these are recyclable, the plastics industry is still in the early stages of recycling and does not recycle these in most cities unless it is through a test program.
Step7
Take caps and pump spray tops off of plastic containers unless they are marked with a number. They are often made from a type of plastic that is different from the main part of the container and generally are not recyclable.
Step8
Find out if your community requires you to remove labels from plastic containers before you recycle them.
Step9
Crush plastic containers to save space in your recycling bin.
Comments
docsharp76 said
on 9/12/2008 Folks need to recycle more because it would help the environment and save energy.
I like the recycling program we have a work because it seems as though little is wasted. Good article!
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peggyemartin said
on 9/12/2008 Bottle Caps can be recycled at Aveda stores. They will be reusing the plastic to create caps and containers for their own products. For more info: http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/caps.asp
sindefy said
on 4/19/2007 Don't throw away your higher numbered plastics until you have checked to see if there is a local recycling center that will take them! My local center has taken them for years.
bmartel said
on 3/20/2007 people who use Type 6 and up plastic cups should start using their own personal water botles rather than continuously going through plastic cups. it is wasteful
Anonymous said
on 9/13/2006 Reuse for inexpensive animal waterer (usually less than $5 at most pet stores and some grocery stores). They simply screw into the base vertically and feed the water bowl. If in a rural area, it is a great way to attract small ground animals and if placed in a higher location, birds will also use it. Another idea is to cut a hole in the side (size depends on what birds you want to attract), put Easter basket grass in the bottom and hang. You might want to paint the bottle to make it opaque.