The Repurposing Life

Recycling Myths and Facts

The concept behind the term “recycling” is a complex one. Most people have no idea what recycling any consumer item really entails. Because there is so much complexity involved in this process, in this post I will focus only on plastics. I want to help you navigate the what, where, how, and whys of recycling plastic. And in the process, I will separate the many recycling myths and facts.

Each year the recycling trade is infused with hundreds of millions of tons of plastic material. Every year, the average American goes through more than 250 pounds of plastic waste, and much of that comes from packaging. In 2018, China stopped taking most plastic waste from the U.S. So now the whole plastics industrial chain—from the oil industry to recyclers—is under pressure to figure out what to do with it. Recycling alone can’t solve the waste problem, but many believe it’s a vital piece of an overall strategy, which also includes reducing packaging and replacing disposables with reusable materials.

The Myth and The Reality

The fantasy that the plastic we put in the recycle bin actually gets recycled and re-used again is just that, a fantasy. We toss our plastic trash into the recycle bin believing we’re doing the right thing. We think our plastic waste goes to a recycle center where it is transformed back into more useful plastic items.

Globally, only about 9% of plastic actually gets recycled. That means 91% of it either ends up in the landfill or littered throughout the environment. The World Economic Forum estimates that as much as 30% of plastic leaks out of the collection system and is unaccounted for, which means it’s scattered in local waterways, or in the ocean.

Recycle Across America, an advocacy group that has created a standardized labeling system for recycling bins. There is a lack of national communication to help the public know the difference between plastics—what is recyclable and what’s not.

Recyclable consumer products are part of a complex global market. Corporations are responsible for designing these single use products meant to be tossed. This is costing the consumer financially, environmentally, and physically.  Because ultimately, this disposable, single-use lifestyle is unsustainable.

The Three Main Plastic Recycling Myths

Americans are locked into a dysfunctional relationship with plastic. Collectively, we generate approximately 33 million tons of plastic trash each year, but less than 10% of that actually gets recycled. And even if you want to recycle, the multiple types—polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and so forth—lead to confusion about how and what plastics can successfully be accepted by most recycling programs.

Plastics Recycling Chart

This plastics identification chart should make recycling and sorting your plastic a little easier. It also shows some of the common plastic items in a home that are likely to leak chemicals into our food and bodies, so that you know which plastics are safe and which to avoid.  Please feel free to print and share.

Tips Recycling Plastic Food Containers

If you want to make sure you’re recycling correctly, the first step is to double-check your local recycling program guidelines to make sure you understand the rules—every program is different and different cities and towns have different rules. Most facilities will take PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) but as for the others, you can look up the rules on your local “.gov” website to find out what exactly should go in your blue bin.

Recycle Across America has gathered together some general guidelines. Below, I’ve compiled those that specifically relate to food and beverage containers:

• Make sure all items are rinsed and clean before going into the recycling bin. Absolutely no food, liquids, or other contamination allowed. Yes, that means that the bottom of your pizza box needs to go in the compost. You can, however, tear-off any non-greasy parts for disposing in the recycling bin.
• Separate glass jars from their metal lids. Better yet, keep both and reuse and/or repurpose in your home. Glass is the perfect sustainable storage material, because it can be recycled infinite times, does not leak chemicals into your food, can be microwaved, machine washed, refrigerated, frozen, can be easily sterilized in boiling water, can be used for canning and preserving, will not absorb or produce any odors or flavors, can be cleansed of all food residue, is clear so you can see the contents easily, and maintains its integrity regardless of length of usage so it will last forever (unless broken, of course). The metal lids must be hand washed, never machine washed.
• For metal cans, cut open the lid most of the way, but keep attached to the can. Carefully open the lid to extract contents, then wash can thoroughly inside and out. Once can is clean, push lid towards the inside of the can. Lastly, remove label before placing in recycle bin (paper labels that are shiny are not recyclable).
• Inquire about how to recycle the lids of plastic bottles. In bigger, mixed systems, it’s often preferred to keep them together, but many smaller programs only want the bottle, so the lid should be repurposed or go in the trash.
• Keep aluminum foil, plastic utensils, Styrofoam containers, plastic wrap, plastic wrappers, baggies and bags OUT of the recycling bin. Those items need to go into the trash unless your recycling program specifically accepts them. Better yet, avoid these altogether. Choose reusable, compostable or sustainable products instead.
• If you must collect your recycling in a plastic bag, use a clear or see-through blue bag.
• Compostable plastics are great but they don’t belong in a recycling bin, or in a home composting bin—only industrial or commercial composting programs or facilities can take these items.

To Clean Or Not To Clean

After cooking dinner, putting away leftovers, cleaning the stove, and washing dishes, you notice a bit of pasta sauce that’s dried around the lip of its glass jar. Do you really need the extra effort of washing the jar before tossing it in the recycling bin? Does a little bit of extra food render an item unfit for recycling? The answer is: you have to wash your recyclables.

Since recyclables are all mixed together, the materials—like pasta jars or yogurt containers—need to be free of any food residue, claims recycling company Waste Management. These materials are all used to make new products and packaging, and the quality of recyclable materials need to be of very high standards.

The reason that they need to be clean is because most of us live in areas that have single-stream recycling. Meaning we can toss our glass, plastic, and paper into the same container, and the recycling company sorts it out later. Food residue from a jar could easily spill onto cardboard or paper, rendering them unfit for recycling. According to the waste and recycling company Republic Services, this is the biggest obstacle in closing the (raw materials) loop.

While I’m willing to put recyclables in the dishwasher or sit down for five minutes with a scrub brush, I realize that it would be 100% unrealistic to ask people to do the same. Your best effort is good enough: simply squirt some water from the faucet into the jar, swirl it around, and tap it dry. Making sure recyclables are dry is as important as making sure they’re free of food residue, as water could seep into paper and ruin its potential for recycling. If a container is clean and dry enough not to spill onto other materials, it’s clean and dry enough for your recycling bin.

What’s Recyclable, What Becomes Trash—and Why

The plastics you put in your recycling bin are brought to a material recovery facility (MRF). This is where people and automated equipment sort plastics by type and shape. MRFs vary quite a bit. Some MRFs are well-funded as part of larger companies. Some are run by municipalities. Others are small, privately owned operations. Separated recyclables are compressed into bales and sold to companies that reuse the material for manufacturing other goods such as clothing or furniture—or other plastic containers.

Recycling guidelines are so particular because each facility is run differently. They have different equipment and different markets for their plastic, and those markets are constantly evolving. Recycling is a business with a product that is vulnerable to the ups and downs of commodities markets. Sometimes it’s cheaper for packagers to make things out of raw, virgin plastic than it is to buy recycled plastic.

Varying Recycling Programs

One reason so much plastic packaging ends up in incinerators, landfills and oceans is that it isn’t designed to be recycled. MRF operators say they’re working with manufacturers to design packaging that can be recycled within the capabilities of the current system. What’s recyclable in one community could be trash in another.

We also don’t recycle as much as we could. For example, plastic bottles are a highly desirable product for recyclers, but only about a third find their way into recycling bins. That said, don’t throw items like holiday lights, batteries, medical waste and baby diapers into the curbside recycling bin. Some of these items can be recycled through separate programs, so check locally.

Some municipalities have an entirely separate eWaste programs (batteries, electric cables, electronics, etc.); as well as separate programs that are equipped to take what is considered “hazardous waste” (medical waste, baby diapers, insulin vials, etc.). And just an FYI, all diapers should be emptied of their “contents” in the toilet before placing in the bin.

Let’s take a look at some common items.

Item	Recycle or Trash	Why
Plastic Wrap	Not recyclable curbside.	It’s common, but it can’t be recycled because it’s hard to deal with at the MRF. The thin film gets wrapped around the equipment and can bring the whole operation to a standstill. Instead opt for reusable wax food wraps.
Small Plastics	Not usually recyclable, but check with your local department of public works or recycling program.	Small plastics, roughly 3 inches or smaller, also can cause problems for recycling equipment. Bread bag clips, pill packaging, single-use condiment pouches—all of these small pieces get caught or fall between the belts and gears of the machinery at the MRF. They end up being treated as trash. Plastic tampon applicators are not recyclable; just throw them away. Instead choose more sustainable feminine products like applicator-free cotton tampons, reusable pads, or menstrual cups.
Flexible Packaging	Not recyclable curbside. Check the packaging for more information.	This type of packaging flattens out on the MRF’s conveyor belt and ends up being incorrectly sorted and mixed with paper, rendering the whole bale unsellable. Even if pouches were collected and separated by recyclers, there would be no one to buy them because there aren’t yet products or end markets for which this type of plastic would be useful. Flexible packaging such as potato chip bags are made from layers of different types of plastic and often are lined with aluminum. It’s not possible to easily separate the layers and capture the desired resin. Since there is not currently any sustainable, plastic-free alternative to this type of packaging, one option is to make your own potato chips, crackers, corn chips, etc.
Deodorant	Not recyclable. Mail-in recycling companies such as TerraCycle say they will take some of these items.	Like flexible packaging, these containers challenge the recycling system because they’re made of several different types of plastic: the shiny adhesive labels are one plastic, the protective cap another, and a twistable gear can be yet another. If you’re crafty, you can make your own, just check out my post for a Homemade Natural Deodorant.
Beverage Bottles	Recyclable. Be sure to remove the plastic film label, which isn’t recyclable.	These are the types of items the recycling system was developed to handle. The containers are firm, they don’t flatten out like paper and they’re made from a kind of plastic that manufacturers can easily sell for making products such as carpet, fleece clothing or even more plastic bottles. As for the caps, some sorting facilities want people to keep them on while others say to take them off. It depends on what equipment the local materials recovery facility has. If you keep them on and the MRF can’t process them, the caps can become dangerous. Bottles are subjected to high pressure in the sorting and baling process, which can force caps off at high speeds, potentially harming workers. However, other MRFs can capture and recycle the caps. Ask what your local facility prefers.
Other Bottles	Recyclable. Rinse out before putting in the bin.	A bottle with a cap or an opening the same size or smaller than the base of the bottle is probably going to be recyclable. Bottles used for laundry detergent and personal care products such as shampoo and soap are all recyclable. If nozzle heads on spray cleaners contain metal springs, remove them and place them in the “metal” recycling bin. About a third of all kinds of plastic bottles get recycled into new products.
Plastic Clamshells	Sometimes recyclable. Check locally.	Clamshells are made from the same type of plastic as beverage bottles, but not every curbside recycler can process them. That’s because the way clamshells are molded affects the structure of the plastic, making them more difficult to recycle. You might notice that clamshells, and many other plastic containers, come with a number inside a triangle of arrows. This 1 through 7 numbering system is called a resin identification code. It was developed in the late 1980s as a way to help recyclers, not consumers, identify the type of resin a plastic is made from. It does not necessarily mean the item is recyclable. These containers are usually marked with a 5 inside a triangle. Tubs are often made with a mix of plastic types. This can make it a difficult material for recyclers to sell to companies that would rather have a single type of plastic for their manufacturing. However, that’s not always the case. Trash collection and disposal company Waste Management says they work with a manufacturer that takes yogurt, sour cream and butter tubs and turns them into paint cans, for example.
Yogurt And Butter Tubs	They are often recyclable curbside, but not always. Check locally. Clean tubs before placing in the bin. Be sure to remove the plastic film label, which isn’t recyclable.	These are the types of items the recycling system was developed to handle. The containers are firm, they don’t flatten out like paper and they’re made from a kind of plastic that manufacturers can easily sell for making products such as carpet, fleece clothing or even more plastic bottles. As for the caps, some sorting facilities want people to keep them on while others say to take them off. It depends on what equipment the local materials recovery facility has. If you keep them on and the MRF can’t process them, the caps can become dangerous. Bottles are subjected to high pressure in the sorting and baling process, which can force caps off at high speeds, potentially harming workers. However, other MRFs can capture and recycle the caps. Ask what your local facility prefers.
Polystyrene Foam	Not recyclable, unless a drop-off location exists in your area.	Foam polystyrene, like that found in meat packaging or egg cartons, is made of mostly air. A special machine is required to remove the air and condense the material into a patty or block for resale. These foam products have little value because once the air is removed, very little material remains. Dozens of cities throughout the U.S. have banned plastic foam. Just this year, Maine and Maryland passed statewide bans of polystyrene food containers. Some communities, however, have drop-off locations for plastic foam recycling, which can be made into crown molding and picture frames.
Plastic Bags and Some Wrappers	Not recyclable curbside. Take plastic bags back to the grocery store for recycling.	Plastic bags—like those used for bread, newspapers and cereal box liners, as well as sandwich bags, dry cleaning bags and grocery bags—create similar problems for recycling machinery as thin plastic film. However, bags and wrappers, like those that come around paper towels, can be returned to the grocery store for recycling. Thin plastic film cannot. There are approximately 18,000 plastic bag drop-off bins at major grocery store chains, including Walmart and Target, around the country. These retailers send the plastic to recyclers, who use the material in products such as composite decking.

Recycling Around the World

In the UK, a report from the charity Recoup shows that only ⅓ of the yogurt cups, microwave-meal trays and other food containers collected from 2016 through 2017 ended up being recycled, the rest went to landfill. The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, and which conducted the research, blamed producers for using a mix of polymers, some of them poor quality used in these containers limited the ability of councils to recycle them. The LGA also claims that up to 80% of packaging could be made more recyclable and says the government should consider a ban on low-grade plastics.

The recycling group British Plastics Federation—the leading association for the whole of the plastics industry—said companies are working to use more recyclable containers and have called for a financial incentive for manufacturers to use more recyclable plastics. According to Recoup’s figures, around 525,000 tonnes of plastic pots, tubs and trays are used by households in the UK every year, but only 169,000 tonnes of this waste is collected for recycling.

Black Plastic Is Basically Impossible to Recycle

The LGA says simple tweaks could make a massive difference, highlighting the case of microwave meals which are often supplied in black plastic material.

Black is the only color that can’t be easily scanned by recycling machines, meaning the process becomes unnecessarily complicated. Simply changing the color of these items would significantly increase the amount that could be used again. Black plastic is almost impossible to recycle. The only reason we have black plastic being used by manufacturers is that it makes the food look good.

When it comes to clamshells of fruit and vegetables many are made from up to three different types of plastic, including polystyrene, which can’t be recycled.

Non-Sustainable Plastics Should Be Labeled

Many consumers have said they want more transparency about what packaging is recyclable. But manufacturers are not being held to account. Consumers should be told exactly which plastic containers are actually recycled and which aren’t. This information should be clearly visible on the packaging.

The LGA wants plastics manufacturers to work with councils to prevent materials that limit recycling entering the system in the first place. As well as calling for a ban, the LGA is looking to the government to make plastics manufacturers pay for the costs of collecting and disposing of plastics that can’t be recycled.

At the moment there’s no fiscal or monetary system in the UK that makes designers choose the more good-to-recycle. The UK’s Recycling Association insists that manufacturers have a big responsibility and have got away with it for too many years, but also local authorities need to take responsibility as well. There are nearly 350 different collection systems up and down the country, there’s widespread confusion, the public doesn’t know how to use it, and it’s underfunded.

Five Simple Solutions to Packaging Problems

1. Margarine and ice cream tubs: Often contain the polymer polypropylene which is very difficult to recycle. An alternative approach would be to make them from the same plastic as water bottles which is easily recycled.
2. Microwave and meat packaging: The materials can be recycled but need to be sorted via an optical scanner first. But because they are predominantly black, it makes the process difficult. A simple change of color would lead to an increase in recycling.
3. Fruit and vegetable clamshells: A complicated construction means three different polymers used. Simpler designs and more use of recyclable materials could make a big difference.
4. Yogurt pots: Often made from a mixture of polypropylene and polystyrene, which can be hard to recycle. An alternative is to use polyethylene terephthalate, which is also used in plastic bottles, and can be easily recycled.
5. Baked goods trays: The lining on these trays for cakes and baked goods is often made from difficult to recycle materials. Other options are available which could boost their recyclability.

Waste management consultancy firm Eunomia, estimated the cost of dealing with packaging at the household level at around £1bn a year. In the current system, the producers are covering around £10-20 million of that cost. While in other European countries, manufacturers fund the entire amount.

The British Retail Consortium, said a statement, retailers are “investing heavily” to find alternatives. The Recoup report comes after a study from the National Audit Office that suggests half the packaging reported as recycled is actually being sent abroad to be processed.

The Takeaway

Bottom line, the less plastic you use, the better. Paper and cardboard are great, if they’re recycled. That’s because paper can be easily remade, and more people understand how to properly recycle it. Though paper should be kept separate from other recycling to avoid contact with food residue and other contaminants.

Consuming less overall, choosing paper whenever possible, and making recycling easier to understand go a long way when it comes to tackling the plastic problem. There’s a need for everybody to unite around common-sense solutions. When a critical mass of people change their habits, they create change. Most manufacturers aren’t closing the loop. It’s not a noble dream—with a collective effort, it’s a possible reality.

Sources:
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By Carly Fraser, May 20, 2015
What Do The Numbers On Recyclable Plastics Mean?
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Which Plastics Are Recyclable By Number? – Plastics Recycling Chart
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By The Editors, April 23, 2018
How to Recycle Plastic Food Containers? Here Are Some Tips
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Modern Farmer, Jun 19, 2018
Plastics
What’s recyclable, what becomes trash — and why
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By Rebecca Davis and Christopher Joyce, Aug. 21, 2019
How clean should food containers be if you want to recycle them?
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Kate Bernot, 6/12/20 7:59 AM
These Three Plastic Recycling Myths Will Blow Your Mind
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Plastic food pots and trays are often not recycled, figures show
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By Matt McGrath, Published 4 August 2018