LDPE is used to make plastic shopping bags, shrink wrap, container lids and squeezable bottles. Low density polyethylene is the simplest plastic to produce and is used to make plastic bags. It’s best to repurpose PVC for other uses as it can be long lasting. PVC is extremely difficult to recycle because of its many chemical additives. It is used to make plastic pipes, hoses, computer cables and plastic food wrap. PVC is sometimes called “poison plastic” because it contains a variety of harmful toxins and should be kept away from children. Polyvinyl Chloride is labelled 3 and is the third most produced type of plastic. HDPE can be recycled up to 10 times and is commonly accepted by most recycling centres. It is a lightweight and durable material that is used for packaging detergent, shampoos and motor oil. High Density Polyethylene is another plastic that can easily be found around the house. Most curbside recycling centres will accept PETE plastics and they can also be recycled multiple times. PETE can be used to make carpets, fibres and even automotive parts. It is lightweight, clear, strong and often used for single use purposes such as soda bottles. Polyethylene Terephthalate is the most commonly used plastic. Different types should be separated because they are processed differently. This code indicates the type of plastic it is and how it should be recycled. Plastic recycling packages often come labelled with the numbers 1-7 which denotes its plastic resin code. It is always best to check with your local recycling facilities to understand how it works in your area.Īdditionally, the Mobius loop with a percentage tells you how much of this particular item was made from recycled materials. Different localities have varied systems in place and not all items can be reprocessed everywhere. Manufacturers label items based on the ability of it being recycled. The basic symbol indicates that an item is recyclable. Each arrow represents a different step in the recycling process and forms a closed loop. The Mobius loop is otherwise commonly known as the recycling symbol. Here’s a symbol guide on what each one is telling you. Recycling symbols may seem confusing but they don’t have to be. These symbols are here to help you when you’re categorizing your waste. If it’s not done right, your efforts would be wasted and the items would be sent to the landfill. Food waste and other liquids could contaminate the materials. The rule of thumb when recycling is to rinse items out, dry them off and separate them correctly. You might think that the centres can sort the items that are sent in but this increases costs significantly and there isn’t enough manpower to do this. Having the wrong kind of materials can also cause damage to the equipment. It is important to sort your recyclables correctly so you don’t contaminate the rest of the recycling stream. Yet, there will still be items that need to be recycled and this needs to be done properly. Ideally, we should decrease our usage to minimize the amount of waste we produce. Materials that aren’t recycled end up in landfills that contribute to greenhouse gases. Recycling helps the environment and reduces the need for new raw materials. Common items that will ruin the rest of your recycling.7 Unallocated References – Everything Else.
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