Two-thirds of all American plastic products end up in landfills. Once in a landfill, plastic can sit for hundreds of years.
In 2015, the U.S. generated 6.3 billion tons of plastic waste. It is estimated that 79 percent of that went to landfills or natural environments, including the ocean. Only 9 percent of these plastics were recycled.
Recycling is crucial. Not only does recycling save you money, but it aids the environment tremendously by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy, and reducing pollution. If you do not already recycle plastic, it is imperative that you learn why you should begin recycling right away.
How to Recycle Plastic Bottles
When learning how to recycle plastic, it is essential that you understand that the answer depends on the type of plastic you wish to recycle.
Plastic bottles are one of the most common forms of plastic within a household. Bottles include milk, juice, water, and soda bottles.
You should always rinse a bottle out thoroughly before recycling. Containers that are full of residue may be thrown away, thus ending up in a landfill or the environment. Check with your local recycling center to determine if they accept bottle caps. If they do not, remove the bottle cap before you throw the bottle in your plastic recycle bin.
How to Recycle Other Forms of Hard Plastic
Like bottles, you must thoroughly clean out hard plastic, items before recycling. This includes food containers, which commonly have residue that can become moldy. If an item is not properly cleaned before it is put in a recycling bin, it may be thrown away.
You should always check a container for recycling numbers to make sure that an item can be recycled. Items that cannot be recycled can be thrown away.
How to Recycle Plastic Bags
Plastic bags cannot be placed in recycling bins. While you can and should recycle plastic bags, only certain companies can take plastic bags. In many cases, this will also include your grocery store. You can also find a plastic bag drop off location near you to get started.
Common Materials to Throw In Your Plastic Recycle Bin
Here are some of the most common household goods to throw in your plastic recycle bin:
- Soda, water, and juice bottles.
- Milk bottles and jugs.
- Detergent bottles and other spray bottles.
- Food containers, including oven-ready meal trays, sour cream tubs, butter tubs, ketchup bottles, mayonnaise jars and more.
- Medicine bottles.
- Drinking straws.
- Loose-leaf binders.
Is it recyclable? Check the plastic item for a label. Items that have no number for recycling are generally not recyclable. This includes zip lock bags, trash bags, bubble wrap, chip bags, and single cheese wrappers.
Who Picks Up My Trash and Recyclables?
Now that you know how to recycle plastic you can begin recycling your plastic materials.
Have you ever asked, “Who picks up my trash?”
Depending on where you live, your city may arrange for trash and recycle pickup. What if you have a significant amount of junk and recyclables to sort through, or you have items that your city will not take? Arranging a trash pickup service can make it easy for you to begin recycling on a clean slate.