What Plastics Can and Cannot Be Recycled? | SL Recycling (2024)

FAQs

What Plastics Can and Cannot Be Recycled? | SL Recycling? ›

The key word is “containers.” Plastic containers marked with #1 through #7 are recyclable. This includes restaurant takeout containers, if they are plastic. Just be sure to rinse them out. However, Styrofoam containers, usually marked with #6, are not recyclable in your blue or yellow bins.

The difference in the recyclability of plastic types can be down to how they are made; thermoset plastics contain polymers that form irreversible chemical bonds and cannot be recycled, whereas thermoplastics can be re-melted and re-molded.

Some plastics are easier to recycle, these tend to be the softer, flexible plastics. Hard plastics and filmy plastics are not currently accepted for recycling in your green wheelie bin but soft plastics can be taken to your local supermarket to be recycled in their soft plastics recycling bin..

Polyvinyl chloride (or PVC). It contains a toxic substance called nonylphenol, which does not prevent it from being used in a wide range of products, from door frames to credit cards to various construction materials. It is one of the most difficult plastics to recycle.

In food packaging, the use of clear plastic is encouraged since clear plastic can be recycled back into clear plastic or coloured plastic. Black plastic is often used for packaging because it enables colours or imperfections to be masked, however because of the use of carbon black pigments it is then not recycled. .

On most plastic bottles, containers and other packaging products you will find the universal recycling symbol of the chasing arrows triangle. Within the symbol, there is a number ranging from 1-7. Although manufacturers use the recycle symbol on their products, not all plastics are recyclable.

Waste management experts say the problem with plastic is that it is expensive to collect and sort. There are now thousands of different types of plastic, and none of them can be melted down together. Plastic also degrades after one or two uses. Greenpeace found the more plastic is reused the more toxic it becomes.

Putting the wrong items in your blue and green top bin contaminates your recycling and means none of it can be recycled and it has to be incinerated instead.

Rinse Jars, Bottles, and Cans

As a general rule, for things like bottles and jars, a quick rinse is more than adequate. You don't need to scrub the remains in the mayonnaise jar with soap before recycling, and a few spots won't likely hinder the process.

Soft plastics aren't usually accepted because they can get caught in the sorting machinery at recycling facilities. This causes jams and delays which makes soft plastics recycling more expensive and undesirable.

Can I put hard plastic in my recycle bin? ›

Please do not put these plastic items in your recycling bin: Plastic bags and films. Please place these in your rubbish bin or recycle them at most large supermarkets (check in store) Hard plastics such as children's toys, plant pots, chairs etc.

clear food packaging, cling wrap • detergents and window cleaner bottles • some plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter jars • vinyl pipes • shower curtains • flooring, home siding, and window and door frames PVC is one of the least recyclable plastic due to additives.

If it's not bottles, cans, paper or cardboard, it probably doesn't belong in your curbside mixed recycling bin and may even require special handling. Just because an item is made from plastic, or contains plastic parts, doesn't mean recycling facilities can handle it.

Bubble wrap is recyclable. It's made from LDPE plastic, which is the same material used to create plastic carrier bags. You can recycle bubble wrap alongside plastic bags in designated carrier bag recycling bins found in many large supermarkets.

Pump action toothpaste tubes are easier to recycle and can be placed in the recycling if your local authority also collects plastic pots, tubs and trays.

Yes, you can recycle white plastic milk bottles. However, white milk bottles cannot be recycled back into milk bottles due to their colouring. They can still be recycled into other valuable products though, so you should still clean and recycle them.

Number 1: PETE or PET

1 plastic is normally clear in color and most commonly found in items like soda bottles, water bottles, peanut butter jars, salad dressing bottles, medicine containers and vinegar bottles. No. 1 plastics are recyclable and can be picked up by most curbside recycling programs.

The reason we say no to black plastic is because recycling facilities sort plastics by bouncing a beam of light off them. Since black plastic absorbs light, it can't be sorted and goes straight through the system and off to landfill or incineration.