What can (and can't) go in your recycling bin

How many times have you found yourself staring vacantly at a yogurt tub, dry cleaner bag or empty bottle of salad dressing and thinking, “Hmmm… Can this go in the recycling bin?” I know I’ve been confused by all the different kinds of plastics used in food packaging. Which ones are recyclable? Well, the answer is: It depends -- on the type of plastic, as well as your city’s waste management practices. For sanity’s sake, let’s start with the varying types of plastics and how they differ

Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)

Initial uses: Soft drink bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing containers, juice bottles, vegetable oil bottles. This is the most widely recycled plastic and often has redemption value in some states.

Recycled products: Fiber, tote bags, new PETE containers for both food and non-food products, fabric for clothing, athletic shoes, luggage, upholstery, furniture, carpet, fiberfill for sleeping bags and winter coats, industrial strapping, sheet, and film, and automotive parts, such as luggage racks, headliners, fuse boxes, bumpers, grilles and door panels.

Plastic #2: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Initial uses: Milk containers, juice bottles, water bottles, bleach, detergent, and shampoo bottles, trash bags, grocery and retail carrying bags, motor oil bottles, household cleaner bottles and cereal box liners. Occasionally, butter and margarine tubs and yogurt and cottage cheese containers.

Recycled products: Drainage pipe, liquid laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, benches, doghouses, recycling containers, floor tile, picnic tables, fencing, lumber, and mailbox posts.

Plastic #3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Initial uses: Window cleaner bottles, cooking oil bottles, liquid detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, clear food packaging, shrink wrap, wire and cable jacketing, medical tubing. #3s also are found in household products and building materials, particularly siding, piping, and windows. Note that plastic bags are generally not accepted for recycling curbside (check with your local waste management company). However, many grocery chains including Safeway, Albertson's, Raley's, Ralphs, and G&G accept plastic bags for recycling.

Recycled products: Binders, decking, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps and mats.

Plastic #4: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Initial uses: Bread bags, dry cleaning bags, produce bags, trash can liners, squeeze bottles, frozen food bags and food storage containers. Safeway Stores and Lucky Food Centers accept HDPE (#2) and LDPE (#4) plastic bags for recycling.

Recycled products: Film and sheet, floor tile, garbage can liners, shipping envelopes, furniture, compost bins, paneling, trash cans, lumber, landscaping ties.

Plastic #5: Polypropylene (PP)

Initial uses: Bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt and cottage cheese containers, butter and margarine tubs, medicine bottles, and ketchup and syrup bottles. Recycling centers almost never take #5 plastic (but double-check, just to make sure).

Recycled products: Signal lights, battery cables, plates and utensils, razors, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, and trays

Plastic #6: Polystyrene (PS)

Initial uses: Packaging pellets or "Styrofoam peanuts," cups, plastic tableware, meat trays, to-go "clam shell" containers, egg containers, aspirin bottles and CD jackets. While very few recycling programs accept #6 plastics, many shipping/packaging stores will take the packaging materials for reuse.
Recycled products: Thermal insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

Plastic #7: Other

The category of "Other" includes any resin not specifically numbered 1-6 or combinations of one or more of these resins.

Initial uses: Three- and five-gallon water bottles and certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware. I haven’t seen a recycling program yet that accepts these.

Recycled products: Plastic lumber, custom-made products

No. 5: The Problem Child

Most programs will accept plastics #1 through #4, while few to none take #6 and #7. But what about #5s? Well, they're made of polypropylene, which is too labor-intensive (not to mention costly) to be of interest to most companies. So does that make no. 5 plastics evil?

Oddly enough, not really, as #5 plastics are durable and much lighter than other plastics, which makes them easier and more environmentally friendly to transport.

Stonyfield Farms has oodles of research on its site to support its choice to continue to use #5, rather than convert to more recycle-friendly #2 plastics. In addition, it encourages its consumers to send back used (but clean, please) containers to be turned into preserve products - from tableware (which I love), to razors and toothbrushes.

Other companies, like Nancy’s have made the move to #2 plastics, but it also encourage reuse of its containers. But, if you end up with a backlog of containers, you can send them back to Nancy’s and the company will make sure they're recycled.

So what's the takeaway from all this? Besides taking a moment to find out what your city/local recycling program accepts, shop smart and take an extra moment to check out what kind of packaging your food products are in. Generally avoid plastic and other petroleum-based packaging and, if one of your favorite companies doesn't offer #2 or the option to return, write them and tell them to get on the stick!

Last, if your city’s recycling program is limited in what it offers to recycle, take a moment to contact them and find out why and put pressure on them to expand.