Comments on: What Types of Plastics Can Be Recycled?

By: Janie

Janie — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:58:30 +0000

I need website to recycle anything for cash and free shipping to the location:. Tupperware, rubber on shoes, wood furniture, aluminum, pc modem, faded used clothes, old shoes, etc.

By: Blanton Cosby

Blanton Cosby — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:02:48 +0000

I too was shocked to learn that my local city recycling effort only “recycles” (send it off to a vender for further production value) #1 & #2. It really hurt my feelings and I took it as a personal insult – the 1 & 2 is sorted out and the rest is sent to the landfill.

I looked around and have found that there are indeed several companies around the USA that WILL take the #4 & #5 plastics, and one company (in Atlanta) that will take all of the plastics provided the quality and quanitys are good and it is all clean. One other company – Preserve.com – takes #5 ONLY and makes it into tooth brushes, food and kitchen utencels and razor blades. They have a program where you purchase their products and once you are finished with it, mail it back to them and it will be put back into the stream and recycled all over again.

A) there needs to be an increase in companies that will accept 3 to 7 for recycling. B) There will have to an additional increase in companies that will BUY that captured materal to use in manufacturing of new products. C) Perhaps there should be a National Revolt from us citizens pointed directly towards the manufacturers of 3 – 7 and get them to stop using that material and use ONLY what is more commonly acceptable. I know that it is a cost thing to begin with – the machinery that cleans, grinds, sorts and contains those matertials is very expensive and large. If thay have no “place” for the proper machinery and what it produces, then what is the use?

Still, something MUST be done soon or we will run out of landfill space. I don’t understand why this is allowed to continue.

By: R. R.

R. R. — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:17:48 +0000

Whole Foods stores now have bins in the front of their stores to take CLEAN #5 plastics. It’s sort of a hassle, but I just save up til I have a bag and make one trip a month.

By: R. R.

R. R. — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:15:34 +0000

Anyone have any information on whether K- resin plastics can be recycled? I’ve spent some time trying to research the subject, and I’m pretty sure they are a PS (polystyrene) based polymer, but not positive….

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:42:20 +0000

Hello! You provided a lot of great information on various types of plastics. It’s crazy how prevalent plastic is in our everyday lives… I’ve tried cutting down on it, and it’s definitely better for my family and I. The idea of the dangerous chemicals- like BPA- that can be leached into our products from plastics is truly frightening. Thanks for the great info, and keep posting!

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:02:13 +0000

Many big food chains and food packagers need to take the pulse of curbside recycling programs across the U.S. Consumers feel comfortable buying products packaged in plastic just because they believe it can be recycled. Consumers are being fooled because most curbside recycling programs will accept no lower plastic types than 1 or 2. Go to a store like Fresh ‘n Easy. They mass-package prepared meals in virtually bulletproof plastic containers which bear a 5 rating, which no curbside recycler will take. Stores like this may be responsible for really polluting far more than they purport to aid in the recycling effort (with their bag-exchange program for instance.) Who is fooled? Shame on the packagers who are allowed to package in the low grade plastics-nobody is fooled and nobody is driving around for miles trying to find the obscure recycling plant that may take these. They simply throw them into their curbside recycling containers, where the sorters throw them out anyways. Sickening to think about. But Im willing to wager that more plastic is hitting the landfill now than ever before, despite the lip service paid to recycling efforts.

By: Suzy

Suzy — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 08:04:09 +0000

I used to have a video store and now I need to dispose of vhs cassettes. I have found a few locations where I can do that. I also have the plastic boxes in which the videos were kept. I have more of them than I can count! What # plastic code are they? Please help.

By: Lee Howard

Lee Howard — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:19:57 +0000

I just recycle my old shopping bags by eating them. They’re so chewy and delectable. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to throw them in a landfill. They taste great with mayo.

By: Custom plastic BAgs

Custom plastic BAgs — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:26:46 +0000

Plastic bottles, bags, candy wrappers or any plastic your eyes can found of. All of it can be recycled. You just need the right knowledge and right materials to do it.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:58:08 +0000

So, I am really trying hard to recycle as much as i can. with halloween behind us i have a few plastic bags from the candy. could i put them in the recycling with the other plastic bags i have or do they get thrown in the trash? i am so confused because no one seems to have a direct answer for this one… any help would be appreciated.