| Some plastics can be recycled via curbside | | | | material can be recycled in your community. |
| recycling, super market recycling machines, or | | | | Other type 6 items, such as, plastic silverware, |
| drop-off bins. If you check the bottoms of plastic | | | | may need to be thrown out. |
| containers, you will notice a raised number from | | | | How is Plastic Recycled? |
| 1-7, found within a triangle, that indicates the type | | | | The recycling process begins with collected plastic |
| of plastic. There should also be a recycling symbol | | | | bottles being clumped together into bales at the |
| if the container is recyclable. | | | | recycling center. Bales can weigh up to 1200 lbs. |
| Almost all county's have some form of plastic | | | | These bales get shipped to a reclaiming company |
| recycling. Check your local yellow pages to find a | | | | where they are split into pieces and shredded into |
| recycling center, then call and find out which types | | | | even smaller flakes by a machine called at bale |
| of plastics they recycle and where to drop them | | | | breaker. The flakes are washed, dried, and then |
| off. For statewide recycling information, call | | | | melted. The liquid is formed into beads that have |
| 1-800-CLEAN-UP. | | | | the potential to become many other products, |
| Recycling tips: | | | | such as: carpet, jacket filling, and clothing. Plastic |
| 1. Rinse and sort your plastics by number as | | | | bottles do not get recycled into plastic bottles. |
| mixing numbers may cause contamination during | | | | Most recycling collectors will not take plastic bags |
| the recycling process. | | | | because they are light-weight and get caught in |
| 2. Types 1 and 2, which consist of soda and | | | | the machines. As previously mentioned, these can |
| water bottles, milk jugs, some plastic bags, | | | | be recycled at most grocery stores. Many |
| detergent containers, cooking oil bottles, can be | | | | Americans reuse these bags as liners for small |
| recycled curbside--if your city offers this service. | | | | trashcans. According to 380 billion plastic bags are |
| 3. Take plastic grocery bags back to the store to | | | | used in America each year; plastic bags made up |
| be recycled. | | | | 9% of litter found along U.S. coasts during a 5 |
| 4. Take lids and spray-pumps off of bottles, they | | | | year study; and plastic litter may take up to 1,000 |
| are generally made with a different type of | | | | years to decompose. With this knowledge, many |
| plastic, unless otherwise marked, that is not | | | | people are saying "no" to plastic bags and opting |
| recyclable. | | | | to bring their own reusable bags to the store or |
| 5. Find out if your city requires you to remove | | | | requesting paper bags instead of plastic. |
| labels from plastic containers prior to recycling. | | | | Because plastic is not biodegradable, it is very |
| 6. Types 3, 5, and 7 are generally not recyclable | | | | important to be mindful of the amount of plastic |
| at this time due to the recycling industry still being | | | | that we are using and throwing away. Plastic |
| in its early stages of development. | | | | recycling is used in the creation of non-recyclable |
| 7. Type 6 is foam packaging called Expanded | | | | items, so drastically reducing the amount of plastic |
| Polystyrene. Call The Alliance of Foam Packaging | | | | that your family uses is the most environmentally |
| Recyclers at (410) 451-8340 to find out if this | | | | sound way of dealing with the plastic dilemma. |