Things You Should Know Before Recycling Plastics

Plastic is a versatile and popular material that we use often. Recycling and reusing items as often as possible will reduce the need for new plastic.

Plastic wastes are shipped by truck or rail to materials recovery facilities (MRFs) where they can be separated by type of polymer, shredded and melted before being pelletized as new material.

Plastics that we use every day are most likely recyclable. These are the most popular plastic types you can recycle.

Recyclable plastics

PET

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), is a very popular thermoplastic. This material is extremely thin and can be used to make low-pressure products. PET is used in a variety of products, including soft drink bottles and clothing fibers.

PVC

Another thermoplastic is PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). It is one of the most widely used plastic materials in the world. PVC is used in the production of wires, pipes and bottles, as well as cling films.

HDPE

HDPE (High Density poly etherylene) is also a thermoplastic. HDPE is more flexible and softer than PVC. HDPE is used to make pipes and gallons.

LDPE

This material is the antithesis of HDPE. Plastic bags are made from LPDE (Low Density poly Ethylene). This material can sometimes be difficult to recycle. You can reuse these materials for other purposes instead of recycling them.

You can't recycle all kinds of plastic, however. Plastic products are made from different materials. It is not economically feasible to recycle these materials. This is usually due to either the lengthy process or the high cost. Sometimes, it is because the current recycling process is inefficient. These materials can cause equipment to break or stop working if they are placed in recycling equipment.

PS

PS is a polyester. Plastic cutlery, yogurt containers and other products are examples of products made from this plastic.

PP

PP can also be used as a polymer. It is used by manufacturers to make plastic boxes, furniture and jar lids. Most often, it will be rejected by recycling companies for recycling.

As you can see, the type of plastic that is recycled will depend on its content. Plastic materials that aren't recyclable get thrown away or disposed of in landfills. Recycling plastic materials is still the best option.

Plastics that cannot be recycled

Plastic materials containing food residues cannot be recycled. Plastics that are not washable must be washed first and then recycled.
To ensure that your plastics are recyclable, wash them after each use.

Coffee cups

The cup's exterior is made from paper but the interior is covered with a thin layer plastic. The PP (Polypropylene), film prevents liquid from seeingping into the paper and thereby burning you. It also keeps warm drinks from cooling too fast.

The cups can't be recycled because they are made from two different materials. This is difficult to do manually and requires a special machine.

Bio-based plastics

Non-compostable plastics can cause contamination and disruption to the recycling process if they are mixed with compostable plastics. It is important to check the label of a product to determine if it can be composted and recycled. Contact your local government or garbage/recycling companies to see if they have drop-off areas for compostable plastic.

Final thought

Plastic is a wonderful material, but there are also some health benefits. Plastic has been found to cause disruptions in hormonal growth and the development of carcinogens. It is also used to prevent bacteria contamination and public hygiene. The Science History Institute states that current health concerns are centered on additives (such a bisphenol A [BPA] which makes plastics more flexible, durable, transparent, and long-lasting) that are added to them during manufacturing. Some chemicals found in these products can cause cancer if they are exposed to high levels. This is also supported by research. Consumers should be cautious about chemicals leaching into foods and drinks, or better yet, avoid using plastics at all cost.