Plastic Recycling Numbers part 2

Here are the last two plastic recycling numbers.

#6's: Polystyrene (Styrofoam): Most of us are pretty familiar with this type of plastic. It makes up many of the disposable containers, packaging, plates and cups. It is difficult to recycle and most recycling places will not accept it.

#7's: Hodgepodge: This category includes basically everything else. It is composed of plastics invented after 1987. Polycarbonate (including the much talked about BPA) falls into this category. Modern plastics used for everything from iPods to computer cases are grouped here. Also included are baby bottles and food storage containers which reduce staining. This plastic is difficult to recycle and most recycling programs will not accept it.

As you can tell, there are a wide variety of plastics. The key is trying to decrease plastic usage in general. In addition to most of them not being easily recyclable, they use valuable oil reserves to manufacture and increase our carbon footprints. Avoiding plastic totally is difficult in the modern world so choose wisely. Check what your local recycling program takes and try to choose those numbered plastics over the others. Remember to recycle them when you are finished.

Happy recycling!