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Publix GreenWise Market Magazine - Summer 2009
We've Got Your Number
 Now that more than 80 percent of U.S. households have access to a plastics recycling program, almost everyone can make a difference. But this task of recycling can become confusing. “To the average person, plastic is plastic. We can tell the difference between glass and aluminum, but not the difference between a high-density polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride,” says Betty McLaughlin, executive director of the Container Recycling Institute. So in 1988 The Society of the Plastics Industry classified the different types of plastics into seven groups and assigned each a number so consumers could more easily differentiate them for recycling.
Just because a plastic container has a number doesn’t automatically mean it’s recyclable in your area. Earth911.com recently conducted a survey of the recycling centers in its database and found that around 75 percent of the programs accept numbers 1 and 2 (which have a better resale market), but only 25 percent of programs accept 3 through 7. Find out which numbers your city recycles by checking the site’s recycling search tool.
Sort It Out
Once you know which plastics can be recycled, be sure to rinse out the containers so they don’t contaminate the recycling process. Remove and discard lids, which are made of a different type of plastic than the bottle. And don’t try to sneak in plastics your community doesn’t recycle. “It’s important not to mix plastics so it’s a cleaner material when recycled,” says Anne Reichman, director of earth911.com.
Make the Effort
The best solution, of course, is to reduce your use of plastics in the first place. Buy items with less packaging or those made with recycled materials. Invest in an aluminum water bottle and bring reusable grocery bags when you shop.
Recycling is absolutely worth the effort. Plastics are made primarily from domestic natural gas, so when we recycle, we save energy. For example, according to the American Chemistry Council, the plastics recycled in 2006 alone saved enough energy to heat more than 2 million homes.
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NAME Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
DESCRIPTION Clear and tough; the most commonly recycled plastic
ORIGINAL USES Soft drink bottles, water bottles, plastic food jars
RECYCLED USES Carpets, fleece jackets, food & drink containers |
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NAME High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
DESCRIPTION Good chemical resistance
ORIGINAL USES Detergent & bleach bottles, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, grocery bags, cereal box liners
RECYCLED USES Nonfood containers (such as household cleaners and motor oil), outdoor decking, recycling bins |
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NAME Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
DESCRIPTION Suitable for flexible and rigid packaging
ORIGINAL USES Shrink-wrap, siding, window frames, medical tubing
RECYCLED USES Pipe, decking, gutters, mud flaps |
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NAME Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
DESCRIPTION Tough, transparent and flexible
ORIGINAL USES Newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, produce & bread bags, shrink-wrap, toys
RECYCLED USES Shipping envelopes, furniture, trash cans |
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NAME Polypropylene (PP)
DESCRIPTION High melting point that makes it ideal for packaging hot-fill liquids
ORIGINAL USES Takeout meals, yogurt, deli foods, medicine bottles, bottle caps & closures
RECYCLED USES Garden rakes, storage bins, ice scrapers, oil funnels |
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NAME Polystyrene (PS)
DESCRIPTION Often called Styrofoam
ORIGINAL USES Egg cartons, hot beverage cups, packing peanuts, plates, protective packaging for furniture and electronics
RECYCLED USES Egg cartons, thermal insulation, protective packaging for furniture and electronics |
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NAME Other
DESCRIPTION Made with a plastic resin other than the six above or with a combination of two or more resins
ORIGINAL USES 3- and 5-gallon reusable water bottles, oven baking bags
RECYCLED USES Bottles, plastic lumber |
RECYCLE AT PUBLIX
Looking for a place for all those plastic grocery bags? You can recycle them at any neighborhood Publix. Just look for a bin at the front of the store. |
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