Plastic Recycling Numbers

What do all those numbers mean anyway? Why can I only recycle 1's & 2's? Here is the breakdown of the plastic recycling numbers. Plastics are made from chemicals derived from oil and their different chemical make-ups give them their various properties.

#1's-This plastic is called polyethylene terephatalate (PETE or PET for short). Most of your disposable pop and water bottles are made of this usually clear plastic. It is picked up by most curbside recycling programs.

#2's-High density polyethylene (HDPE): Most milk jugs, butter tubs, and detergent, toiletry and juice bottles are made of this plastic. It is picked up by most recycling programs.

#3's-Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): This plastic is used in food wraps, cooking oil bottles and plumbing pipes. It is rarely accepted by curbside recycling programs.

#4's-Low density polyethylene (LDPE): This is used to make grocery bags, some food wraps, squeezable bottles and bread bags. This plastic is not often accepted by curbside recycling programs but plastic grocery bags can usually be recycled at the stores in which you obtained them.

#5's-Polypropylene: Yogurt cups and similiar wide-necked containers are oftne made from it as well as water bottles with a cloudy finish. Other items include medicine, ketchup and syrup bottles as well as straws. Curbside recycling programs are starting to accept this plastic more and more.

I will cover #'s 6 & 7 tomorrow in my post.