Sharing recipes, crafts and frugal living, the challenges and triumphs of parenting a neurotypical child and a child on the Autism Spectrum. Yoga Instructor said goodbye to her nightly glass of Chardonnay to give up habits that were not serving her purpose in life! The CocktailMom name remains, however with a new focus on healthy and authentic living.

8/16/2007

Knowing the recycling numbers

In the July/August 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times Magazine they posted a very helpful breakdown of what those numbers mean on the bottom of plastic containers. I was surprised to discover that the organic Gerber baby food is in a number 7, which can't be recycled at all! This may make you reconsider some of the packaging of items that you currently buy.

1 : PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Found In: Soft drink and water bottles.
Recycle rating: Excellent. Can be recycled into carpeting and fiber fillings for pillows, quilts and jackets. A large quantity is reused in the beverage market.

2: HDPE ( High-Density
Polyethylene)
Found In: Milk Jugs, detergent bottles and trash bags
Recycle rating: Excellent. Can be reused in pipes, flowerpots and trash cans.

3. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Found In: Food wrap, cooking oil bottles, and "blister" packaging.
Recycle rating: Poor. Even though it can be reused in pipes, vinyl chloride has been classified as a carcinogen.

4. LDPE (Low-
Density Polyethylene)
Found In: Grocery bags, garment bags, shrink wrap and squeeze bottles.
Recycle rating: Fair. Can be difficult to find centers that take this kind of plastic to be turned into trash bags, plastic tubing and plastic lumber.

5. PP (Polypropylene)
Found In: Yogurt containers, most bottle tops and some carpets
Recycle rating: Fair. Few centers accept PP. Can be recycled into battery casings, brooms and scrapers but can't be transformed beyond that.

6. PS (Polystyrene)
Found In: Plastic utensils, packing materials and Styrofoam.
Recycle rating: Fair. Can be recycled into egg cartons, concrete and insulation, but finding a recycling center to accept it is often difficult.

7. "Other"
Found In: A wide variety of products; this usually refers to layered or mixed plastics.
Recycle rating: Poor. "7" plastics can't be recycled at all.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I did not know there was a breakdown of plastic containers. You learn something every day, even at my age. :o) Love, Mom

James Diggs said...

Thanks, this is great information.

peace,

James

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