Every day millions of people across the United States use plastic to eat with, drink with, and sit on, and when people throw plastic away it goes to landfills to rot. Many animals find plastic at landfills trying to find food and end up eating the rotting plastic which can make them seriously ill or even die. It also pollutes the air and the water because when it’s decomposing it releases chemicals into the air. These are some of the many reasons we need to recycle plastic.
Here is some information about the different types of plastics we use on a daily basis that can be recycled through our blue bag system. You can identify the plastic by the number on the bottom.
1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – A clear, strong, lightweight plastic used for packaging foods and beverages. Most 2-liter bottles of soda and water are made of this plastic.
2. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) – A lightweight yet super strong and very flexible. This plastic is used for many things like hard hats and house wraps.
3. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – This plastic is flexible and rigid. This plastic can be used for window frames, shutters, and many other construction items.
4. Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) – This plastic is very strong and also waterproof. This plastic is used for shopping bags, juice boxes, and insulation for wires.
5. Polypropylene (PP) – This plastic is durable, resistant to cracking and stress. We use this plastic for car batteries, kitchen utensils, and athletic apparel. It’s also used packaging and medical equipment.
6. Polyethylene (PS) – This plastic can be mistaken for Styrofoam. We use this plastic for test tubes, Petri dishes, and Red Solo cups and many more everyday items. WE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS PLASTIC FOR RECYCLING!
Please place your plastic #1-5 and 7 (falls into the “other” category) in your Blue bags, and we will pick it up when picking up your toters. You can also drop recyclables off at East Central Recycling at 701 E. Centennial Avenue Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm or on Saturday 8am- 11:30am.