Plastic recycling by the numbers
I have a confession to make: I've been throwing most of my plastic containers into the recycling bin, regardless of their recycling number. I've washed them and removed their labels. I've scraped off the warning that this prescription drug shouldn't be consumed with milk. I've done it all in my desperate fantasy that all the plastic I use can be recovered.
Should I go to the confessional? Do a few lashes with switches of birch?
Whatever. Here are the most commonly recycled plastics:
Number one and number two plastics are the most common and most easily recycled plastics. Number one plastics are items like soda bottles and the cute plastic container your seaweed salad came packaged in.
Number two plastics tend to be items like laundry detergents, milk and motor oil.
Number six is also widely accepted. That's Styrofoam, packaging peanuts and the like. I've read on Ask.com it can be made into insulation foam.
In my neck of the woods those are the only plastics that are accepted for recycling. None of my yogurt containers (#5), prescription bottles (#5) or plastic cups (#5) are recyclable. New York City has a similar policy. Seattle and Los Angeles are likewise limited.
If only I lived in Sonoma County, where every type of plastic can be recycled.
According to these cities' Web sites the effort needed to recycle a lot of our plastics just isn't worth it.
For now, maybe I'll send my plastic pill bottles and yogurt cups via jet to Sonoma. I'll save the landfills one private jet at a time!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-29-2008 @ 12:17PM
Rex said...
If they can't be recycled but you still want to do something, you should re-use them. Prescription bottles are good for organizing small items that are easily lost. Plastic cups, like those from margarine or butter, make good organizers or travel bowls.
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2-29-2008 @ 1:47PM
Phil L. said...
My municipality's plastic recycling program is interesting: They specify that only plastic *bottles* are accepted, regardless of number. They particularly note that yougurt containers aren't bottles. So any other plastic packaging - even if it's marked with the same number as one of my bottles - can't by recycled.
I've never heard a rationale for this approach...
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2-29-2008 @ 2:02PM
Sea said...
There are a number of municipalities that claim you should only recycle plastic bottles that feature a mouth smaller than the body of the bottle.
On Seattle's recycling Web site these instructions are provided:
"Ignore the numbers—recycle only plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars, plus shopping, newspaper and dry cleaning bags. The number indicates the resin (a type of plastic) content. The cost of recycling some items exceeds the value of recycled plastic. "
Yet most states require those numbers.
Anyway, I have been using my prescription bottles for spare buttons and such. I'd like to send them back to my pharmacy, though.
3-01-2008 @ 3:21PM
Henri said...
You don't need to live in Sonoma, the Delaware Solid Waste Authority takes all kinds. Wow, I never thought Delaware could be on par with Sonoma! On top of that, we are the home of tax free shopping!
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3-07-2008 @ 4:59AM
cori said...
I just read a link explaining that wide mouthed #2 containers contain additives that cannot be mixed with the #2 bottles during recycling. Also, it said that many communities collect all types of plastic in the hopes of maximizing the amount of #1 And #2 collected, but then later discard #3-#7. Dirty little secret! Apparently there isn't a big enough market to warrent recycling them.
The bottom line: minimize all plastic use, maximize GLASS - is it recyclable forever!!!
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3-07-2008 @ 3:17PM
Karsten said...
Recycling has become a highly politicized business. What can be gained if the public is convinced/blinded enough is wide-spread positive public perception of those who initiated the program.
In my home town in QC a whole flue of stuff is accepted in the recycling program that just cannot be recycled. For example, they happily except any juice container even if it is fused together from three different materials. They also do not care which number plastic goes in the recycling. They take it all. Just not Styrofoam. Too light for the volume. I wish I had the list here. It is incredible what they are willing to take and call it recycling.
I would LOVE to see how they can possibly separate the materials, how much junks they throw in a landfill, and how little is actually recycled efficiently. But I am certain that it is not wanted to be known how ineffective such a recycling program is.
BTW, glass is heavy and costs a lot to transport. Nevertheless, it reduces the need for new materials and (even more important) it reduces the temperatures for melting new material if old glass is added to the mix of raw materials. White glass cannot be recycled well. It is sensitive to contamination with accidentally added colored glass. If you love brown glass, it is no problem.
To add to what it comes down to: Recycling cost energy and creates pollution. It is MUCH better to avoid throwing out stuff. Avoid buying products that come with packaging. Avoid buying products that will not last long. Don't be lulled into thinking that recycling makes your overconsumption and the industries over-packaging acceptable.
Karsten
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http://www.polluteless.com
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Living on Earth:
Sufficient resources - Wasteful existence - 6.5 Billion humans; Preserve two and abandon the third.
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