Recycling Series: Plastic!
by Jac
Plastic production has increased tremendously and is expected to double in the next 20 years. Given that tremendous volume, it helps to know a bit about when plastic is recyclable and not.
Together we can learn, do, and participate in everyday environmental actions that make our community more healthy, more beautiful, and more environmentally friendly for all.
Plastic recycling appears easy - toss it in the blue bin! Hooray, you've just saved the earth! In reality, plastic recycling it is more challenging, both for consumers who are trying to recycle and for the end user who ultimately receives plastic after its recycled. Understanding what makes plastic recyclable is important, because it's estimated that less than 10% of plastic is recycled. It does not biodegrade. Every piece of plastic every manufactured is still in existence.
The chasing arrows mean it's recyclable, right?
That's why we squint at all of our packaging for that little triangle, right? Nope. The "chasing arrows" DO NOT indicate recyclability. The chasing arrows - and the number inside (1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 most commonly) - indicate what TYPE of plastic that item is made from. There are 7 types of plastic used most commonly.
Unfortunately, only 3 of those - #1 (drink bottles), #2 (milk or laundry jugs), and #5 (typically small tubs or take out containers) are usually recyclable at the curb. Glen Ellyn, as you can see at this link, takes all of these curbside, but some communities do not. So the number helps us know what plastic type the item is, but it's only recyclable if your community accepts that type of plastic for recycling. Bottom line: don't go chasing arrows.
Why don't you want all my plastic for recycling?
It's easy to forget that recycling is a production process that takes old stuff (your trash) and processes it into raw materials for companies to make new stuff. If the materials aren't of the right type, or aren't in great condition, companies won't want to buy our post-recycled trash. Because there are so many types of plastic, there are not yet technologies to process it all into new plastic, or the process to do so is too expensive, some plastics are simply not desirable.
#1 and #2 plastics are the most widely recycled because there is the best market for those to be manufactured into post-consumer plastic items.
#6 plastics - polystyrene foam or Styrofoam - is one of the undesirables. You can see for yourself why you might not want it to make new stuff. As a hard plastic, it's quite brittle and breaks/splits easily. As a foam, once it breaks the teeny tiny pieces fly everywhere. #6 plastic is most commonly found near us in plastic clamshell takeout containers and disposable drink cups (solo cups). #6 plastic is not recyclable in Glen Ellyn!
Recycling is NOT done by hand but with high tech machines, optical cameras and other robotic processes that sort items. Those cameras can't track down or sort all the teeny tiny plastics that might come through like pens, caps, plastic utensils, straws, etc, or flexible plastics like plastic bags and wrap. If it can't be sorted, it won't be processed correctly. It sounds counterintuitive, but if you aren't sure if your plastic item can be recycled, you should throw it out.
DO!
We agree plastic is unavoidable. It's also needed - for example, in hospitals to keep equipment sterile, or in cars to make them safe as well as lighter and more fuel efficient. However now you know that not all plastic is created equal - we produce a lot of it, and very little is recyclable. So consider taking these steps to change up your plastic use:
REDUCE the amount of plastic you acquire, especially single use plastics like utensils, cups, and bags
REUSE plastics that you do have. For example, if you receive sturdier plastic take out containers, use them to pack future meals in rather than plastic zip up bags
RECYCLE as a last resort, and make sure the plastic you are trying to recycle are items that are accepted.
