How To Recycle
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Prerequisites
For any material, it is important to follow the steps below before recycling.
Make sure it is clean. Remove any food and labels.
Determine whether your recycling center accepts the material.
If the item is plastic, identify its resin code, then recycle correspondingly.
♻️ Recycling Plastic ♻️
Types of Plastic & Resin Codes
⚠️ Always make sure to check the object for its type of plastic before recycling ⚠️
♻️ 1 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE/PET)
Soda & Water Bottles, Food Jars,
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RECYCLABLE
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Most common type of plastic.
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Identified by their clearness.
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Remove caps and any labeling before recycling.
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Recycling just one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a light bulb for 6-7 hours.
- It is commonly used to hold drinks due to its high-impact resistance.
♻️ 2 High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Milk Cartons, Laundry Detergent Bottles, Shampoo Containers, & Household Cleaners
RECYCLABLE
Identified by its translucence.
Make sure to check that caps are also marked by # 2
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Can handle high temperatures
- Very durable
- Chemical resistant
⚠️PLASTIC BAGS⚠️
(Type of # 2 Plastic)
If recycled, plastic bags are thrown away by the recycling plant as they can cause maintenance issues.
SOLUTIONS:
1. You can reuse plastic bags to carry other items, or even use their durable qualities to fashion them into jump ropes.
2. Most grocery stores have in-store recycling bins designed specifically for plastic bags, so you can bring them along instead of throwing them away.
INTERESTING FACTS:
-Recycling or reusing 1 ton of plastic bags saves the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil.
-Plastic bags can hold 2000 times their weight.
🚫 3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC pipes, Blister Packs, Flooring, & Fencing
CANNOT BE RECYCLED
Chemical Resistant
Highly durable
Production is energy-intensive
INTERESTING FACTS:
- The production of PVC uses almost the same energy output as eight medium nuclear plants annually.
♻️ 4 Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Plastic Film, Container Lids, Squeezable Containers, & Packaging
Containers are RECYCLABLE
Plastic grocery, bread bags, and plastic film are NOT RECYCLABLE
SOLUTIONS:
- Try to avoid buying items wrapped excessively in packaging and plastic film.
- Similar to plastic bags, LDPE plastic film can be dropped off at in-store recycling bins.
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Packaging and containers make up 56% of all plastic waste in the world.
♻️ 5 Polypropylene (PP)
Bottle Caps, Medicine Bottles, Ketchup Bottles, & Yogurt Containers
Containers are RECYCLABLE
Take off bottle caps before recycling.
*** Even if bottle caps don't have a recycling symbol on them, they are still recyclable as they are made from polypropylene***
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Can be made into reusable woven bags.
- Is ideal for reusable containers, so they can be easily reused rather than be thrown away.
🚫 6 Polystyrene (PS)
STYROFOAM
Packaging Peanuts, Styrofoam Containers, Plastic Cutlery, & Food Takeout Containers
Most recycling programs DO NOT accept it.
Can be made into a hard, clear material used for plates or the ever-so familiar styrofoam.
SOLUTIONS:
- Try to avoid using single-use food containers, instead use reusable or compostable plates.
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Styrofoam is used for insulation.
- Styrofoam is 97% air.
🚫 7 Miscellaneous
Bio-based Plastics & Any Plastic That Doesn't Fit Into 1- 6
CANNOT BE RECYCLED
Bio-based plastics can be decomposed.
** You CANNOT compost biodegradable plastic in your garden. They require controlled environments to biodegrade **
Interesting Facts:
- Most of these plastics contain BPA, a chemical harmful to our health.
- PLA & ABS plastics are used in 3D printing and PLA is biodegradable.
