Category Archives: Recycling

How to Recycle Plastic: Understanding the Recycling Numbers on Plastic Containers

Plastic Types and How to Recycle Them

There are actually a wide variety of plastic types, as you may or may not know. Many containers that are composed of plastic will have a corresponding “plastic number type” stamped into the bottom of the container. This number tells you the exact type of material, and how you should go about recycling that container. Just because there is an example product listed below next to a specific number, it should be known that each of these products may be contained or packaged within other types of plastic.

• #1 PET – (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) will appear clear or slightly tinted; it has a high melting point: soft salad dressing, drinking bottles, peanut butter jars, sheeting for microwave food trays. Recycled PET is also used to produce carpets and clothing (polyester).

• #2 HDPE – (High Density PolyEthylene) will appear translucent or colored: this plastic is often used for water and detergent bottles, milk jugs, tubs containing margarine or cool whip, bleach bottles, lotion bottles, shampoo bottles, and other bath products such as bath bubbles.

• #3 Vinyl – PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) will have a shiny surface and will also sink in water. Shampoo bottles, or bottles of vegetable oil, things such as laundry detergent containers or bottles of other sorts of cooking oils. This will often include more hazardous materials like window cleaning products. Fresh meat wrappers may also be included here. Continue reading →