Easy Guide to Plastic Recycling

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Exploring eco-friendly alternatives like metal straws, glass food containers, and reusable grocery bags offers efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. However, despite these efforts, countless situations remain where plastic usage is unavoidable. According to the UN Environment Programme, “of the seven billion tonnes of plastic waste generated globally, less than 10 percent has been recycled.” This disparity emphasizes the importance of education on proper recycling standards and processes.

One of the larger barriers to more easily recycling plastic waste is the confusion surrounding the seven recycling symbols found on plastic products. Each of the symbols, numbers 1-7, represents a different type of plastic with its own distinct recycling instructions. While the symbols can give insight into where and how to recycle an item, it is important to research and understand local regulations and legislative rules around recycling, as municipality rules around recycling can vary widely from place to place.

Why are the different recycling symbols important?

These different symbols for recyclable plastic help processing facility workers segregate different plastic products based on their individual criteria. Each plastic resin has its own processing needs and recycled product outcomes. While some facilities manually separate the plastics, many utilize automated services. Placing incorrect items in the curbside recycling bin can lead to damaged recycling equipment, contaminated recyclables, and the entire bin being discarded to landfill. Non-recyclable items included in the recycling stream are also costly for processors in terms of time and money. In certain cases, processors may opt to send the entire bag of items to the landfill if it contains too many non-recyclable items. 

How do I manage waste streams at the company level?

While this guide primarily focuses on recycling at the household level, companies can incorporate recycling practices and promote enhanced employee awareness across operations.

  • To enhance employee awareness, companies can offer comprehensive employee training on the different types of recyclable materials and their corresponding plastic numbering.

  • To promote proper recycling practices, companies can create clear labeling and signage throughout the workplace to remind employees about the significance of recycling numbers and to encourage proper waste management and sorting techniques.

  • Companies can also work with their suppliers and vendors to ensure that packaging materials and products used within the company’s operations are clearly labeled so they can be more easily recycled.

1 – PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

PET (polyethylene terephthalate), also known as PETE, is the most commonly used plastic for single-use bottled drinks due to its light weight and being inexpensive to manufacture. PET/PETE is used to manufacture:

  • soft drink bottles

  • ketchup and beer bottles

  • mouthwash bottles

  • peanut butter containers

  • salad dressing containers

  • vegetable oil containers

Is PET/PETE easy to recycle?

PET/PETE is very easy to recycle with most curbside recycling programs accepting cleaned PET/PETE plastic waste.

What can PET/PETE be recycled into?

Once processed through a recycling facility, PET/PETE can be recycled into fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpeting, paneling, reusable bottles, and food containers.

2 – HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)

HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is a strong, durable, and adaptable plastic with many uses, especially in plastic packaging. HDPE is commonly used in:

  • milk jugs

  • juice bottles

  • bleach and detergent bottles

  • shampoo bottles

  • trash and shopping bags

  • butter and yogurt tubs

  • cereal box liners

Is HDPE easy to recycle?

HDPE is easily recyclable with most curbside programs accepting most forms of this type of plastic. It is suggested to check with local municipality regulations to ensure that you are recycling only the portions of the product that are accepted. For instance, the sprayers on cleaning product bottles are unlikely to be accepted by most municipalities because they usually contain different mixed plastic types and other non-plastic parts.

Plastic grocery bags, trash bags, and plastic wrap are categorized as film plastic and can usually not be recycled using curbside services, but some stores and recycling facilities will collect and recycle them.

What can HDPE be recycled into?

Once properly recycled, HDPE plastic products can be recycled into laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing, drainage pipes, and shampoo bottles.

3 – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Due to its relatively inexpensive and durable nature, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is a type of vinyl, is commonly used in siding and piping products. PVC is also manufactured in a cost-efficient manner so it is found in many products and packaging. PVC can be found in:

  • blister packaging

  • wire jacketing

  • siding

  • windows

  • piping

Is PVC easy to recycle?

PVC plastic types are rarely able to be recycled, but they are accepted by some plastic lumber manufacturers. Local waste management providers should be consulted with to determine if PVC/V products should be disposed of in the trash or dropped off at a special recycling collection center.

What can PVC be recycled into?

If accepted by a plastic lumber manufacturer, PVC/V can be recycled into decks, paneling, mud flaps, roadway gutters, flooring, speed bumps, and mats.

 4 – LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)

LDPE (low-density polyethylene) is a flexible plastic with many different application usages. LDPE can be found in:

  • squeezable bottles

  • bread packaging

  • frozen food packaging

  • dry-cleaning bags

  • shopping bags

  • Ziploc bags

  • tote bags

  • toothpaste tubes

  • various furniture

Is LDPE easy to recycle?

While LDPE hasn’t been widely accepted through many recycling programs across the United States until recently, more communities are beginning to collect and process this type of plastic waste. LDPE is not often accepted through curbside recycling programs, but certain municipalities and stores may have collection programs for #4 plastics.

What can LDPE be recycled into?

Once properly processed, LDPE can be recycled into trash cans and trash can liners, compost bins, shipping envelopes, landscaping and floor tiles, and paneling.

5 – PP (Polypropylene)

Polypropylene is a versatile plastic used in a variety of different applications including:

  • packaging

  • automotive parts

  • yogurt containers

  • plastic bottle lids

  • medicine bottles

  • syrup bottles

Is PP easy to recycle?

PP can be recycled through some curbside recycling programs depending on rules set out by local legislation and is gradually becoming more widely accepted in recycling programs across the United States.

What can PP be recycled into?

PP can be recycled into signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, bins, rakes, pallets, ice scrapers, landscape borders, and plastic trays.

6 – PS (Polystyrene)

PS (polystyrene) is one of the most toxic and generally non-recyclable products. Styrene monomer and styrene oxide, both of which are found in PS, are classified as possible carcinogens. PS can be molded into either:

  • rigid form

  • foam products (Styrofoam)

Is PS easy to recycle?

The majority of curbside recycling programs do not accept rigid PS products, and foam PS products are generally not accepted anywhere due to their composition, which consists of 98% air. It is recommended to avoid PS products whenever possible due to their toxic nature and how difficult it is to recycle them. Because foam products tend to break up into smaller pieces, it is recommended to place the PS contents inside of a bag, squeeze out any excess air, and tie the bag before disposing of it to ensure that plastic pellets are not dispersed.

What can PS be recycled into?

Although it is hard to find centers willing to accept PS products, if they are processed through a recycling facility, these products are recycled into insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, foam packaging, carryout containers, vents, and ruler backing.

7 – Other (Polycarbonate)

Plastic resins that cannot be grouped into the previous 6 categories are lumped together in the plastic #7 category. This category includes various resins such as Polycarbonates (BPAs), and polylactic acid (PLA) derived from plant materials. #7 plastic can be found in a wide variety of products including:

  • bulletproof materials

  • sunglasses

  • DVDs

  • clear plastic cutlery

  • signs

  • lighting fixtures

  • food containers

  • nylon

Is #7 plastic easy to recycle?

Since these plastics are often mixed and because the category covers an array of different plastic resins, other plastics are not traditionally recycled. Municipality websites and other resources may be able to provide specific instructions for how to recycle certain #7 plastic materials.

What can #7 plastic be recycled into?

Because #7 plastic is not generally recycled, it can only be recycled into plastic lumber and custom-made products. 

For more information on how KERAMIDA can assist your company with Sustainability consulting or Sustainability training for your team, contact us or call (800) 508-8034 to speak with one of our Sustainability professionals today.

Author

Lauren Besser, MBA
Sustainability Analyst
KERAMIDA Inc.

Contact Lauren at lbesser@keramida.com

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