4/11/2023 0 Comments Recycle bottles![]() ![]() In general, unless specifically mentioned as accepted, you want to omit any hazardous material plastic bottles from your recycling bin or you risk contaminating the entire load. These types of containers must be triple-rinsed in a commercial process to recycle them. ” In other words, you can’t make new bottles and jugs from motor oil, antifreeze and pesticide containers because of concerns that the original product remains. The Food and Drug Administration has set restrictions on what it classifies as “ food-grade plastic. Why can’t I recycle bottles that contained certain materials? Both are highly used and valuable plastic resins. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, or #1 plastic) has better temperature protection, which is why it’s used to store most beverages. High-density polyethylene (HDPE, or #2 plastic) is translucent, which is why milk jugs appear cloudy. Other than being separate resins, #1 and #2 plastic have different purposes. What is the difference between PET and HDPE? You’ll want to defer to your local program for full details and questions about rinsing and caps. Most curbside recycling programs accept at the very least #1 and #2 plastic bottles, and bigger programs accept all numbers and plastics in other forms (like yogurt containers). Plastic bottles and jugs are part of the big five of curbside recycling, along with aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper and steel cans. Flakes are then melted into pellets, then transported to a manufacturer to make new plastic bottles/jugs or other products, such as lining for sleeping bags, T-shirts, carpet, or playground equipment.įrequent Plastic Jug & Bottle Recycling Questions Can I recycle plastic bottles and jugs in my curbside recycling program? ![]() Recyclers will shred the #1 or #2 plastic into flakes, which are washed, rinsed and dried. Bottles are then crushed (where caps are removed if you haven’t already done so) and baled to be sent to a plastic recycler. Recycling centers use optical scanners to identify the type of plastic resin, so #1 and #2 plastics are separated from each other and other materials (such as paper and glass). Using recycled plastic to make new products saves 66 percent of the energy over using virgin material.In America, we use 2.5 million plastic bottles each hour, and they are all designed for one use.Plastic bottles don’t biodegrade, meaning it will take hundreds of years for them to decompose in a landfill.Plastic bottles are among the most common sources of marine debris, where they can be mistaken as food by birds and fish.You should be OK leaving the label on the bottle, but it’s unlikely to be recycled since it’s a low-grade quality of paper or plastic.Others want the cap off to ensure the bottle is empty and because their recycling machinery may be damaged when trying to crush a capped bottle. Some programs want the cap on to prevent loose caps from falling out during transportation. You’ll want to check with your local program whether to keep caps on the bottles, or whether caps are accepted at all.The remnants often contain sugar, which will attract insects and generate odors. Most recycling programs ask that you rinse your bottles and jugs before recycling.Plastic Bottle & Jug Recycling Preparation These plastics may not be collected in your curbside program.įind Recycling Guides for Other Materials Occasionally you will find bottles made from #3-#7 plastics, such as those made from plants instead of natural gas. The type of plastic is identified with a resin ID code on the bottle. Most bottles and jugs are #1 plastic (PET) or #2 plastic (HDPE), which are both accepted by most curbside recycling programs. ![]()
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