Is It Possible to Recycle All Plastic? Or Only Some of It? And, Do I Need to Know the Plastic Numbers?
So, today’s question is quite simple.
Hi EcoExpert. I’ve got a whole pile of plastic sitting here. I want to do my bit for the environment and recycle all plastic, but the curbside collection service won’t accept some of it. What’s the problem?”
The answer lies in the plastic numbers (resin ID). (See my earlier blog for a description of the plastic recycling numbers). You need to check those numbers before you send it for recycling.
In fact, (even better!) you should check those numbers before you buy, so that you don’t buy plastic items that are going to end up in landfill.
The short answer is: no, you can’t recycle all plastic
Here’s how the numbers work in the US:
- Plastic #1 – easy to recycle. Curbside and recycling stations accept PET.
- Plastic #2 – easy to recycle. Most curbside and recycling stations accept HDPE (although some may only accept containers with necks).
- Plastic #3 – difficult. Go to www.Earth911.com type in PVC and your zip code and you will get a list of places which will take PVC, but be aware, it may only be certain types of PVC.
- Plastic #4 – not easy. An increasing number of curbside and recycling stations accept LDPE, but it’s not common.
- Plastic #5 – getting easier – thanks to the gimme 5 program in Whole Food stores and others which accept PP.
- Plastic #6 – depends on where you live. An increasing number of curbside and recycling stations accept PS but definitely not all.
- Plastic #7 – difficult. Again, it’s becoming a little easier, but you can’t assume #7 Other will be accepted.
What about the rest of the world?
In the UK and most of western Europe as well as most of Australia it is generally much easier to recycle everything, certainly in the larger cities and suburbs. South Africa and India have a number of successful projects which enable people who are out of work to collect materials and get paid to bring them to recyclers.
Do most plastics get recycled?
Not at all. On average, less than 20% of all plastics are recycled. Compare that with newspaper recycling rates for example, which are are often around 80%.
Several reasons are suggested for this. In the USA, the economics of plastics recycling are unfavourable so it is not heavily promoted. Yet Americans use a lot of plastic – more per person than any other country, although Western Europe is close behind. In the UK it’s much more feasible financially to recycle, but there aren’t enough recycling facilities in some areas, and some consumers are confused about which plastics can be recycled.
Another problem with recycling is the use of biodegradable plastics. If some of these get mixed in with the other plastics for recycling, the reclaimed plastic is not recyclable because of the differences between the two types.
Another reason for lack of recycling is the fact that many common but small plastic items lack the recycling symbol and number. A good example is the billions of plastic utensils commonly distributed at fast food restaurants or sold for use at picnics. Or, as many of my readers have commented, on the smaller items, the symbols are very small and therefore difficult to read.
What can I do to help?
Follow these EcoExpert tips:
- Don’t slip plastic types that the recyclers don’t want into the recycling bin. Mixed types don’t recycle well.
- Practice “Wash & Squash” – rinse the container and squash it before you send it away. (You don’t HAVE to rinse them (unless your recycler states it), but it stops them smelling and attracting insects and animals while they wait for collection). Squashing them means you can fit more in.
- If it’s bottles you’re recycling, don’t include the caps, as they are normally #5 (PP).
- Keep the caps separately, and when you have a number saved up, find a local place that takes #5, for example the “gimme 5” boxes at Whole Food stores.
Please share this informative post with your friends and family (buttons on right) – thank you!
Editor’s Note: this article has been updated with new information.
Clare ~
My eyes almost popped out of my head when I read that plastic recycling is at about 20% compared to newspapers at 80%. That is absolutely ridiculous, well, I guess it’s more sad than ridiculous … 20%?!? I am so glad that you are pointing these kinds of things out to help raise awareness that we need to do more than we are doing … Thank You!
Stay Amazing and Do Extraordinary Things, Neil
The “problem with recycling is the use of biodegradable plastics.” OMG I don’t think enough people know about this one.
We are very fortunate that our refuse/recycling collector will take numbers 1 through 5. I really try to avoid using plastic when ever possible. Thanks helping to bring awareness to these issues and hopefully we can hit 80% plus on recycling.
Gosh, you’re very lucky indeed to get 1-5 collected! (Don’t move!). Good for you to avoid plastic where possible – it is difficult, it’s so ubiquitous, but it’s a real problem.
Thanks for your comment Rob!
It is really a matter of habit. As you stated, once you get used to it, separating out the recycleables from the non- becomes almost second nature.
As Nike says, “Just Do It.”
Dennis
I like it!
Thanks for your comment!
Recycling as a habit…that is the answer…but how to get people who do not do it to start the habit is the trick, isn’t it? I have become fascinated lately with the economics of recycling. People who have little do not waste anything…everything is used again again…they redefine the term “repurpose”. And people and societies who have plenty, do not seem, as a whole to “value” stuff…so the idea of “re-use, recycle” is foreign to them.Unless it becomes some kind of status symbol.or they can become convinced on a moral point….because they don’t have an economic need to recycle…
Sonya Lenzo
You’re absolutely right Sonya! When I moved to South Africa from Europe I was amazed at how much I (used to) waste by comparison. Then, when I visited countries such as Zimbabwe regularly, I realised that even those standards were wasteful. It’s the same in Mauritius – only the relatively wealthy can “afford” to throw away – everyone else has little demand for new, and re-uses what they have. We need to change the”status” of waste!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
Wow, I had no idea plastic recycling was so far behind newspaper recycling. Thanks for all the useful information!
Michael
Hi Green Goddess,
I love this series you are doing about recycling plastics and the plastics numbers that are being put onto labels these days. I’m learning so much about an increased ability to recycle plastic containers from reading your Green Eco-friendly blog! Thank you, lady!
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Thanks for the breakdown on which plastics are most easily recyclable. It’s not always easy to find this information.
Andrew
Clare, you always have the greenenst, most eco friendly solutions rather than just problems. Plastic recycling is no different. Many sites are just about awareness. What I think sets your site apart is the answers. Reminds me, I just bought reuseable mesh produce sacks from http://www.earthwisebags.com along with “Ecotowl” a reuseable paper towel that’s washable pacificdrygoods.com. You should check them out. I know you’ll like them.
Thank you so much Kevin, much appreciated! I will definitely check out those 2 sites you mentioned, those products sound good!
Thanks for the information, but what happens if I, say, throw #5 into a box with some #1, 2 and 7 at the same time? Would my service get irritated fast?
Mark Hogan
More than irritated I would suggest – you’d be costing him money! Mixed plastic loads are considerably less valuable, so he’d need to either pay someone to sort it manually, or get paid less for his product. Ouch!
Here on my little tropical island, all the plastics are mixed together and so they’re of much lower value, but recycling is a brand new concept and it’s difficult to encourage it when many people are not wealthy. Plus the numbers aren’t required by law here so unless you have an EcoExpert on hand to say “that’s 5 and that’s 1”, you couldn’t easily separate. Thanks for your comment!
You’ve made it very simple to remember which plastic I can recycle. Thanks!
I am always amazed when I walk into a house that only has one garbage…bad sign. It is tragic that we only recycle about 20% of plastics in the U.S. because it’s not promoted enough. Wish it could just be about common sense.
Jennifer Battaglino
I had heard that you usually couldn’t recycle the caps at all. Thanks for clearing that up and for the advice on collecting the caps and taking them to a facility that recycles.
Cherie Miranda
Hi Clare
Thanks for getting this info out there! It is so important to recycle properly or else our efforts are wasted. We recently had the good fortune to have our recycling collection expanded to include #1-7 (from just #1 and #2) so now we don’t need to run to Whole Foods with bags of #5 plastics anymore! The key here is to simply refuse plastic. If we can avoid plastics whenever possible than we have made a huge difference already.
Gina
http://www.shopECOgoods.com
Wow – #1-7, that’s wonderful! But you’re absolutely right, refusing plastic, choosing products with less plastic packaging, treats more of the disease than the symptoms (recycling). Thanks for your comment!