How to Recycle Plastic

Sometimes, it's hard to know how to recycle plastic. So many products are made out of plastic these days that recycling used plastic products is necessary in order to keep our planet in good condition. Unlike newspaper and cardboard, which are recycled frequently, plastic is just thrown away. One reason for this is that sorting and processing plastic products can be a painstaking process. Not all communities recycle the same plastic products so it can be confusing for residents to figure out what to recycle and what to throw away. Some people would rather not go through the hassle of trying to figure out whether they can recycle that old milk jug or just toss it in the trash.

In an attempt to make it easier to determine whether plastic products are recyclable, a Plastic Identification Code (PIC) was created. All recyclable plastics now carry this code. It is a number 1-7 set inside a three-chasing arrow symbol (triangle).

Before you can start recycling, you need to find out what PIC codes your community recycles. Most stick to just numbers 1 and 2, but others include more. To determine whether your product is recyclable, first locate the code on the container. Most are on the base or side of it. It is also important to wash or rinse out the container before putting it in the recycling bin, although you don't have to get out every last drop. It makes the recycling process more efficient at the processing plant.

If your local recycling center doesn't accept a certain plastic item which you wish to recycle, try to find someone that will take it back. Real Simple offers a website which can help you find someone to take back a wide variety of products, some of them plastic: http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/tips-techniques/recycle-anything-00000000006117/.

Below is a list of each code and some common items that fall under it:

• Code 1: Soda bottles, water bottles, salad dressing bottles and peanut butter containers.
• Code 2: Milk bottles, juice and water bottles, trash bags and shopping bags.
• Code 3: Juice bottles, PVC piping.
• Code 4: Frozen food bags, squeezable bottles like ketchup and mustard.
• Code 5: Reusable microwaveable ware (Tupperware), yogurt containers, butter and margarine tubs, take-out food containers, disposable cups and plates.
• Code 6: Egg cartons, packing peanuts, take-out food containers, plastic forks and knives, disposable cups and plates.
• Code 7: Baby bottles, beverage bottles.

Thanks to the code and increased public awareness, plastic recycling rates have increased every year since 1990.