Plastics Recycling: Ever wonder what those numbers mean?

by Silvia Lucero

February 6, 2012

Recycling your plastics helps the environment by conserving energy, preserving natural resources, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, saving landfill space and protecting ocean life. Earth 911 found that nearly 80% of all plastic bottles are in our landfills and that plastic production accounts for 4% of energy consumption in America.  

Now you can make a difference by recycling and learning about what each number means, their level of recyclability, and what becomes of them.

Following is a quick tip sheet.

PET/PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)  
Common Uses: Also known as polyester.  Commonly used in beverage bottles and other food and nonfood containers.
Recycling factor: High.  Almost always accepted curbside.
Second life: Tote bags, carpet fiber, textiles, fleece jackets, furniture, paneling, new containers, and straps.

HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
Common Uses: Milk, bleach, shampoo, detergent and household cleaning containers, as well as grocery bags and cereal box liners.
Recycling factor: High. Almost always accepted curbside.
Second life: Recycling containers, laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, nonfood containers, tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, decking, fencing, flowerpots.

PVC/VINYL (polyvinyl chloride)
Common Uses: Packaging (blister packs, shrink wrap), construction (pipe, siding, window frames, fencing, flooring), medical tubing, cable insulation.
Recycling factor: Low. Not accepted in many communities.
Second life: Pipe, decks, paneling, gutters, mud flaps, flooring, cables, speed bumps, carpet backing, mats and packaging.

LDPE (low-density polyethylene)
Common Uses: Flexible container lids; dry-cleaning, trash, and bread bags; shrink-wrap; beverage container coatings.
Recycling factor: Fairly low. Accepted in some communities.
Second life: Shipping envelopes, trash bags, compost bins, paneling, lumber, landscape tiles, and floor tiles.

PP (polypropylene)
Common Uses: Molded automotive parts, food containers such as yogurt cups and takeout packaging, medicine bottles, bottle caps.
Recycling factor: Difficult to recycle. Accepted in a few communities.
Second life: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, rakes, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrappers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, storage bins, shipping pallets and trays.

You can take your #5’s to Whole Foods where it will be sent to be made cutting boards, toothbrushes, plates, razors and cutlery.

PS (polystyrene)
Common Uses: Protective packaging, bottles, food containers, cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, CD cases, videocassette cartridges, coat hangers.
Recycling factor: Low. Not typically accepted curbside.
Second life: Light-switch plates, insulation, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, desk trays, and carryout containers.

Other (all other types or a mix of plastics)
Common Uses: Bottles, oven-baking bags, and various packaging.
Recycling factor: Very low.
Second life: Can sometimes be made into bottles or plastic lumber or custom-made products.

Isn’t that amazing all the things that can be made just by recycling?