What do the Numbers on Plastic Containers Really Mean?

You may think, like I once did, that if there is a number inside the recycling symbol it means it can be recycled. Wrong! Only plastics labeled one or two can be recycled with your usual curbside pickup.

Plastics labeled #1 are PET (Polyethylene terephthalate). This includes narrow neck plastic bottles like soda bottles. This type of plastic is likely to be recycled only once to make carpet, fiberfill or shopping bags. There is only a small chance that your soda bottle will ever be soda bottle again.

#2 is HDPE (high density polyethylene). This includes milk jugs, laundry detergent and shampoo bottles. Clear HDPE can be made into new bottles. Colored HDPE is recycled into plastic lumber materials.

Plastic shopping bags are made from LDPE (low density polyethylene) and are labeled #4. They are not picked up with your curbside recycling, but I have found that my local grocery store and some department stores accept them and send them to be recycled. They can be made into new bags or plastic lumber.

If you want to know more about the other types of plastic that we should all be avoiding, valcorerecycling.org has great information.

If you have a favorite product that is packaged in a type of plastic that is not recyclable, contact the manufacturer to voice your concerns. You may want to threaten to take your business elsewhere until they become more environmentally friendly.