Based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 13 million tons of plastic, including containers and packaging, were found in the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in 2008. To put that figure into proportion, there were about 11 million tons of durable goods such as appliances and furniture, and about 7 million tons of nondurable goods such as trash bags, diapers, cups, utensils and medical devices. Today plastics comprise about 12% of the total waste, whereas in the 60’s, plastics embodied less than 1% of the total waste. This increase can still be curbed if steps are taken to minimize the problem.
Recycle Plastics
Recycling plastic products offers economic and environmental benefits. Less plastic would end up in landfills and a fewer resources would be utilized to produce virgin plastics. The American Plastics Council (APC) states that about 4% of the country’s energy consumption is devoted to plastic production.
Know the Numbers
You may have noticed that different plastic products are represented with different recycling numbers. This plastic numbering system was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. in 1988. The numbers help recyclers sort the plastics for recycling. The recycling categories also inform consumers what type of plastics they are buying and which plastics can used in recycled plastic products.
#1 PET/PETE or Polyethylene Terephthalate can be found on many plastic soft drinks, sports drinks, and water bottles. Recyclers find it very easy to recycle PET bottles. Although the US does not yet make new bottles out of the recycled ones, recycled PET plastic bottles can be made into tote bags, clothing, carpet, luggage and fiber.
#2 HDPE or High Density Polyethylene can be found on milk jugs, shampoo bottles, margarine tubs, and laundry detergent bottles. HDPE plastic can be recycled into buckets, crates, benches, and plastic lumber.
#3 PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is usually found on medical tubing, cable insulation, pipes, and fittings. The recycling of PVC makes gutters, decking cables, electrical boxes, and mats.
#4 LDPE or Low Density Polyethylene can be found in plastic shopping bags, frozen food bags, and squeezable bottles. Garbage can liners, furniture, floor tile, and trashcans are some of the items made from recycling LDPE.
#5 PP or Polypropylene is usually found in ketchup bottles, medicine bottles, and yogurt containers. PP recycled plastic products include signal lights, brushes, oil funnels, and rakes.
#6 PS or Polystyrene can be found in takeout food containers, meat trays, and egg cartons. It can be recycled into light switch plates, desk trays, rulers, cups and utensils.
#7 represents other plastic products that could not be classified in any of the other categories. This is the least desirable category since plastics in this category are the most difficult to recycle.
It is always best to check with your local community to determine which types of plastics are accepted by recycling centers in your area.
