Fantastic Plastic!

One of the materials that is commonly recycled is plastic. There are several different types of plastic that can be reused, and each one has a special code. If you look on the bottom (usually) of a plastic container, you'll see the three-arrow recycling symbol with a number and/or letters inside. This tells you what kind of plastic it is:

1/PETE (or PET): Poly(ethylene terephthalate) is a kind of clear polyester used to make bottles and jars for different foods. PETE can be recycled into fabric to make clothing!

2/HDPE: High-density polyethylene is used for larger bottles that are not clear, and for some food containers. HDPE can be reused to make bottles for motor oil and laundry detergent, and to make outdoor furniture and "plastic wood".

3/V (or PVC): Poly(vinyl chloride) is also found in many types of bottles, but they're generally not used for food. PVC is a little hard to recycle, because it releases dangerous gas if it is heated too high, but it can be used to make flooring and siding for houses.

4/LDPE: Low-density polyethylene is related to HDPE, but the molecules have a different shape. HDPE molecules are straight, and LDPE molecules branch like a tree. LDPE is used to make many kinds of shopping bags, and it can be recycled into trash bags. Many towns don't collect this plastic for recycling.

5/PP: Polypropylene is found in food containers, especially yogurt containers. Many caps for bottles made from PETE, HDPE, or PVC are actually made of PP. This plastic can be reused to make many items such as broom and brush bristles.

6/PS: Polystyrene is used to make plastic dishes, cups, and cutlery (forks, spoons, and knives). It is also the plastics most commonly found in foam products. It isn't recycled very often, because it can break down into dangerous chemicals when heated.

7/Other: This group includes any other type of plastic. They usually aren't recycled.

Look around your house and see how many of these types of plastics you can find. Which ones does your town recycle?