CONFUSED ABOUT PLASTICS?
You're Mot The ONLY One!
Wouldn't it be nice if recycling plastics ^as as clear as those soda bottles we toss in the bin?
While that may be easy, it becomes a somewhat cloudy issue when looking at the plethora of
plastics in use today ana how best to recycle them.
Plastics recycling is relatively new compared to aluminum and newspaper recycling which
have been going on for years and years and years. The technology and the markets for these
products have been long established. This is not the case with plastics. The technology is very
new and limited to certain plastic containers. Of the seven different categories of plastic, stable
markets have emerged for only two types of plastic containers, namely plastic soft drink Dottles
and plastic milk jugs.
PETE
&
HDPE
That's why municipal recycling programs like Winston-Salems1 RECYCLE TODAY curbside
program limit collection of plastic bottles to milk jugs and soda bottles, because we are assured
of buyers who will convert these containers into a variety of new products .
WHY JUST THESE?", YOU MIGHT ASK.
Here's a breakdown of why markets will not buy other plastics:
Other #1 Plastics: An example of other #1 plastics is cooking oil
bottles and they are called "custom containers" because their shape
is custom made for product quality reasons as well as consumer
appeal. Their custom shapes mate sorting a nightmare. Also, many
of these containers have neck rings which are made from a different
type of plastic causing markets to reject them. In addition, fopd
residue such as peanut butterand cooking oil left in the bottles are
considered contaminants making them unacceptable.
Other #2 Plastics: These containers consist primarily of colored
detergent bottles, juice bottles, etc. and due to the different coloring, these
containers have limited end uses and are in low demand. Also, some
bottles labeled #2 have a thin inner coating which is a different type of
plastic and even this srriall amount makes tne bottle unacceptable.
#3, #4, #5/ #6 & #7 Plasties: The technology and demand for recycling
these plastics lags far behind. In addition, the fact that there are so many differ
ent types would make sorting very labor intensive and not economical.
While we're waiting for markets to develop for these plastic containers,
don't be frustrated. Shop for the same product packaged in glass or another
recyclable container!
CONFUSING CODES
The stompedon number code with the
recycling arrows on plastic bottles is a resin
identification code which indicates only what
type of plastic the bottle is made of Tne
number cods does not moon fhot the
COjj^te h mtgjtmm There has been
a great deal of controversy over this coding
system because the arrows do mislead one
to believe containers with this symbol are
recyclable, when that is not always the case.
Recyclers experience a great deal of
frustration when they try to recycle a coded
plastic bottle and it is left behind in the
* green bin. '
Because of the confusion over the code, the
National Recycling Coalition is working with
the Society of Plastics Industry (SPI), inventor
of the resin code, to arrive at a consensus
on proposed alterations and proper use of
the coae.
kll*
SO, REMEMBER.
You con help the City and BFI
reduce the cost of collection and
sortation by putting only plastic
soft drink bottles and milk jugs in
your green bin.