| Plastic bottles are wonderful for a variety of | | | | centers accept them. It also helps to know that |
| reasons. They are lightweight, simple to carry, and | | | | most centers do not collect the bottle caps. They, |
| durable. They are practical and easy to recycle. | | | | too, are coded with a number. The items that |
| What really goes on during the recycling process? | | | | cannot be recycled at your closest facility can |
| What is it all about? What are the benefits of | | | | sometimes be given to your curbside recycling |
| recycling plastic water bottles? | | | | program. You can call your city to find out what |
| For one advantage, recycling one pound of | | | | coded numbers they accept. |
| polyethylene terephthalate plastic (from soft drink | | | | What happens after we drop them off at the |
| and water bottles) saves 12,000 BTU's of heat | | | | local recycling center? There are several simple |
| energy. What this translates to is that using | | | | steps involved. First, the bottles are packed into a |
| recycled materials to create a new product uses | | | | large bale and bundled for shipping. The bales |
| two-thirds less energy than raw materials do to | | | | contain between 6500 and 7200 bottles depending |
| make the same product. If you are looking at this | | | | on the size. For example, are there more water |
| on a worldwide scale, that is a lot of BTU's that | | | | bottles than soda bottles? What is the size of the |
| we are saving for other, possibly more important, | | | | individual bottle? The second step is to send them |
| uses. | | | | to a "reclaiming center" where the bales are |
| It is simple to recycle and most of us do it. How | | | | broken down, and the bottles are shredded into |
| can we make it easier? For one thing, it helps to | | | | tiny pieces. They are then washed, dried and |
| know which bottles to recycle. Those of us who | | | | melted. Next, they are formed into "beads" which |
| recycle know that not all of them are accepted | | | | are developed into various practical products such |
| by the centers. To minimize your collections and | | | | as carpets, clothing, and school lunch trays. They |
| aggravations, check the bottle. There are codes | | | | are also made into fun items like yo-yo's and |
| on the bottles numbered one through seven that | | | | kayaks! |
| indicate whether that particular bottle can be | | | | Recycling helps our communities in a variety of |
| recycled. Numbers one and two are the most | | | | ways. It is simple and convenient. In addition, it |
| common and easiest to recycle. Almost all | | | | just makes good sense. |