Plastic products are ubiquitous in modern life. We all use them pretty much every day in this country. Additionally, most people want to be good stewards of the environment and view recycling as an easy way to make a difference.
However, throwing something that can’t actually be recycled into your recycling bin actually has the opposite effect. It slows down the whole process and the non-recyclable material will have to be thrown out eventually anyway.
So, how can you tell what should be recycled and what should be thrown out when it comes to plastic products. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
What Can Be Recycled
Many of the recyclable plastic items can be found in the kitchen. The shape of the item will often play a large role into whether or not it can be recycled. For example, plastic jugs with a handle or neck are almost entirely recyclable.
That includes plastic bottles, plastic jugs such as milk containers, laundry detergent containers, and peanut butter jars. Other common household items that can be recycled include yogurt and butter tubs, shampoo bottles, the majority of cleaning product containers, salad dressing bottles, and cooking oil containers.
What Can’t Be Recycled
There are a few factors that make an item difficult or impossible to recycle. A product made with multiple kinds of plastic or layers can be difficult to separate, making the juice not worth the squeeze. Or if an item has been contaminated by food, the plastic may not be clean enough to recycle.
Another example is plastics that are too flexible and, thus, will get caught up in the machinery. Some common household items that would fall under this category include plastic sandwich bags, grocery bags, plastic film, and bubble wrap. In some cases, these can be taken for commercial recycling.
At Piper Plastics, we responsibly recycle all rejected parts and material left over from our dip molding, dip coating, and fluid bed PVC powder coating processes. Call 800-966-9919 to learn more about our services today!
