All plastic products can leach toxic chemicals when heated or damaged. Thus, the best choice is to move to other materials like metal and glass where possible. Source: codepen.
Below you will find more information about 7 types of plastic with the examples of their use and possibility of recycling. Still, you should always check the facilities of local waste recycling factories as far as many of them do not recycle all recyclable plastics.
Plastic number 1 refers to polyethylene terephthalate which is one of the most generally used thermoplastic polymer resin. What is PET plastic in our daily life? Well, plastic 1 is most frequently used in water and beverages bottles, food jars and containers, salad dressing and oil bottles, clothes fiber, mouthwash bottles.
Plastic 1 is usually clear in color and it is not intended for multiple uses. Source: compactor-runi. As we have mentioned: PET 1 plastic is used in much disposable food and drink containers so we interfere with it quite often.
Therefore it is crucial to understand a few things:. The good news is that PET plastic is easy to recycle. Thus it is accepted at most recycling plants. The plastic items are shredded into tiny pallets and reprocessed into new bottles. Recycled PET bottles can also be turned into polyester fiber.
This fabric is applied for producing fleece clothes and carpets or to stuff sleeping bags, jackets, pillows. Plastic 2 is one of the safest sorts of plastic. Also called HDPE high-density polyethylene , it has got a high strength-to-density ratio which results in superb wear resistance. HDPE products withstand heating and freezing so they can be used in various weather conditions.
Plastic number 2 can be reused without any harm. The durability and reliability of HDPE 2 make it efficient to use in the manufacture of various items like:. Source: i. Recycle logo plastic 2 means that it can be easily and efficiently recycled up to 10 times. Clear containers from HDPE 2 plastic are recycled back into the same new containers. Colored HDPE 2 is turned into many other items like pipes, lumber, toys, lawn, pens, floor tiles.
Plastic 3 is not going to be among safe recycling codes. Known as PVC polyvinyl chloride , this is very dangerous and one of the least recyclable plastic. Still, plastic number 3 is as widely spread as PET plastic. PVC recycle number means that the item is strong and elastic due to softening chemicals, — phthalates. They cause great problems with the hormonal system. It is not commonly recycled, however, although this is changing in many communities today as more plastic recycling programs gear up to handle this material.
When recycled, LDPE plastic is used for plastic lumber, landscaping boards, garbage can liners and floor tiles. Products made using LDPE plastic are reusable, but not always recyclable. You need to check with your local collection service to see if they are accepting LDPE plastic items for recycling.
To cut down on the amount of LDPE that you consume, try replacing your plastic grocery bags with fabric alternatives and taking a cloth bag to your local bakery the next time you buy a loaf of bread. You can also replace plastic sandwich bags with platinum silicone alternatives , which are heat safe. Polypropylene plastic is tough and lightweight, and has excellent heat-resistance qualities. It serves as a barrier against moisture, grease and chemicals. When you try to open the thin plastic liner in a cereal box, it is polypropylene.
This keeps your cereal dry and fresh. PP is also commonly used for disposable diapers, pails, plastic bottle tops, margarine and yogurt containers, potato chip bags, straws, packing tape and rope.
Recycled PP is used to make landscaping border stripping, battery cases, brooms, bins and trays. However, 5 plastic is today becoming more accepted by recyclers. PP is considered safe for reuse. To recycle products made from PP, check with your local curbside program to see if they are now accepting this material.
To cut down on how much PP you consume, opt for reusable straws instead of plastic ones, reusable water bottles , and cloth diapers. Polystyrene is an inexpensive, lightweight and easily-formed plastic with a wide variety of uses. Polystyrene is also widely used to make rigid foam insulation and underlay sheeting for laminate flooring used in home construction.
Because polystyrene is structurally weak and ultra-lightweight, it breaks up easily and is dispersed readily throughout the natural environment. Beaches all over the world have bits of polystyrene lapping at the shores, and an untold number of marine species have ingested this plastic with immeasurable consequences to their health. Polystyrene may leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen, into food products especially when heated in a microwave.
Download a free plastics recycling cheat sheet! The easiest of plastics to recycle. Often used for soda bottles, water bottles and many common food packages. Is recycled into bottles and polyester fibers. Both individuals and businesses should also bear in mind that here in Massachusetts, the statewide waste ban prohibits the disposal of any single resin narrow-necked bottles aka, soda bottles in trash bins.
Trust your plastics recycling questions to Miller Recycling. Our team can help your business establish an efficient and cost-effective system for recycling plastics, and we pay competitively for large quantities of plastics including hard-to-recycle varieties. We know that plastics recycling can be confusing.
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