Recycling Plastics

What do you need to know about recycling plastics?

FACT: An empty 1-gallon HDPE plastic milk jug weighs less than 60 grams, compared to 95 grams in 1970.

Plastic is an everyday part of everyday life, yet we may not realize how often we come into contact with plastics throughout our day. Since the early days of plastics recycling in the 1970s, our nation’s recycling infrastructure has grown significantly – including innovations across product manufacturing and material recovery technology. Today, over 80% of U.S. households have access to some sort of organized plastic recycling program, while nearly all Americans have access to recyclable drop-off points. In 2011, the United States generated nearly 32 million tons of plastic materials but only 2.65 million tons of that was recovered.[1]

It’s important that individuals, businesses and communities understand how plastic recycling works.

Plastic recycling programs vary from community to community, and the type of plastics accepted for recycling can be different. It is important to take note of the types of plastics accepted in your area – these can be identified by the “Resin Identification Code.” This code is a stamped or printed number found on the bottom of plastic containers and surrounded by the recycling symbol. Plastics numbered 1, 2, and 5 have the highest acceptance rates in the U.S. Check with your local solid waste disposal or recycling provider to know what plastics are accepted in your area.

The two most-often recycled plastics are:

  • High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) (#2): bottles for milk and other beverages, detergents, shampoos, motor oil, drugs and cosmetic products.
  • Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (#1): bottles for soft drinks and other household and consumer products.

Other rigid plastic containers (tubs, trays, and lids) are being accepted in an increasing number of plastic recycling programs today. In recovery processing, these plastics are broken down and used to create second-generation products ranging from fleece jackets to carpeting. As plastic recycling becomes more common, the financial and environmental incentives for communities will push more cities and towns to support residential recycling programs.

What do I do?

Once you know what types of plastics your recycling program accepts, you should follow the “wash and squash” rule—rinse the plastic container. Paper labels can remain on containers. For plastic grocery bags, while most recycling collectors do not accept them, you can usually return them to the store. Resist the temptation to slip plastics that recyclers don’t want into your recycling bin.

How does it work?

The plastic recycling process is simple. The plastic product is washed and chopped into flakes. If mixed plastics are being recycled, they are placed in a flotation tank, where some types of plastic sink and others float. The plastic flakes are dried in a tumble dryer and then fed into an extruder, where heat and pressure melt the plastic. The molten plastic is forced through a fine screen to remove any contaminants and then formed into strands. These plastic strands are cooled in water and then chopped into uniform pellets. Manufacturing companies buy the plastic pellets from recyclers to make new products.

Plastic can also be incinerated. Incineration recovers chemical energy, which can be used to produce steam and electricity.

The Numbers: Plastics

  • High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Bottles Generated in 2011: 780,000 tons natural and 834,500 tons pigmented / Recycled: 222,800 tons natural (28.6%) and 286,800 tons pigmented (34.4%) [1]
  • Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Bottles Generated in 2011[2]: 2.79 million tons / Recycled: 859,000 tons (30.8%)
  • Source Reduction: An empty 1-gallon HDPE plastic milk jug weighs less than 60 grams, compared to 95 grams in 1970.
  • Source Reduction: A 2-liter PET plastic soft drink bottle weighs 48 grams, compared to 68 grams 20 years ago.[3][4][5]

Continue reading here: Resources for Communities

Was this article helpful?

+2 0