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Did You Know…? It is common to see reusable shopping bags for sale at every grocery store. Most retailers have taken it as an opportunity to advertise with their logos while others, like Trader Joes of Whole Foods, have added creative art work or messages of eco-consciousness. Did you know that those reusable bags are old water bottles? That’s what the sign says hanging above the check-out line.
Did you know: Plastic…
Almost all plastic containers are recyclable, but not all recycling facilities are able to process them. When you flip your water bottle over there will be a number inside a triangle of arrows on the bottom. The majority of recycling programs will accept plastics with the numbers one and two. Unfortunately, the numbers are not consistent across the country because they are not federally regulated. This means that 39 states have different rules when it comes to their recycling system. The recycle symbol is appearing on all plastics, but this does not mean you can recycle it. The symbol is an identification marker of what a certain plastic is made from.
Here are a few things to remember about the numbers system. You will see a number one on polyethylene terephthalate products. These are used for water bottles and textiles. This is the most widely recycled plastic. High-density polyethylene is labeled number two and is found in detergent bottles and grocery bags. Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl, belongs to the threes. At number four you will find low-density polyethylene that is used for dry-cleaning and fresh-produce bags. Number five plastics, polypropylene, are your bottle cap, yogurt cups, and drinking straws. Styrofoam is labeled number six and number seven are all of your “other” plastics that are not recyclable at most centers.
Did You Know: Paper…
Not all paper is created equal and not all paper can go into the same bin.Recycling factories have to sort paper because some is worth more than others. Office paper has longer fibers and has a greater value than the mixed paper sources such as cereal boxes. In order to make a profit, centers need to keep similar papers together. When food and paper mix there is another problem. Other materials like plastics and metals can be cleaned but paper cannot. If one sheet of paper is contaminated the entire batch is no good and will rot. When the paper is finally recycled it is turned into a pulp, passed through a screen to remove particles, and then treated with chemicals to remove inks.
Did You Know: Metal…
When we recycle metal we save an enormous amount of energy, money, and resources. Steel products, for example, contain 25 percent steel scrap. Steel scrap is important because it requires 75 percent less energy to produce than “virgin” steel. This is the reason why scrap metal is a valuable commodity. Steel is not the only metal recycled that saves on energy costs, when an aluminum can is reused it saves enough energy to run a television for two and a half hours.
Now You Know…
Not all products can be recycled. There are still limitations on certain plastics due to the center’s ability to process the material. It is still important to recycle because it will save money and energy in the end. If your city offers a recycling program call or go online to see what can and cannot be thrown in the special bin. Some centers can accept everything from water bottles to hair dryers. You will be amazed at what you shouldn’t be throwing away in the landfill.
Written by: J. Elizabeth Lawrence
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