DeCoding the Secret Codes

There is a code system that you see every day, at home, at work, at school, at sporting events and concerts. The coding system is the numbers and letters shown on nearly every plastic container you touch. It was created in 1988 by the plastics industry for internal use, but immediately became part of the general public’s domain as it was used for recycling collection programs. Over the years, the code has not changed much but people have interpreted it to mean a variety of things, from the number of times a container has been recycled to the number of years the container can be reused. Neither of these is remotely accurate. If you want to dazzle your friends at the next cook out, start a conversation about the number and letters on the bottom of whatever plastic container is at hand. Then pull this article up for a quick reference on the meaning and the bottle’s recyclability! There are only seven numbers used and they identify the type of plastic resin used to make the bottle. Technically all are recyclable, but no curbside programs recycle #6 PS. Most in Will County accept all the rest! #1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Single use beverage bottles, please recycle with the cap on. #2 HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Laundry bottles, milk jugs, grocery bags. Bags must go to retailers while the bottles go in the bin or county drop-off sites. #3 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) plumbing pipes, window framing material, other non-container products. #4 LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) Squeezable bottles, bread bags. Bags must go to retailers while the bottles go in the bin or county drop-off sites. #5 PP (Polypropylene) Shampoo bottles, Medicine bottles, straws. Straws still go to the garbage but the empty bottles are taken in all the curbside and drop-off programs in Will County. #6 PS (Polystyrene) Plastic utensils, foam plastic, packing peanuts. Foam plastic is taken at special collection events, such as at Sharefest in September in New Lenox, but the utensils still go to the landfill and the packing peanuts should be reused or offered to a shipping service store. #7 OTHER (a combination of the above or a new resin) Some types of bottles and other materials. The bottles are accepted in most curbside programs and at all Will County Drop-Offs. Please know that most recycled plastics do not hold food or beverages due to FDA restrictions. While it is becoming more common to see a small percentage of recycled content in laundry bottles, shampoo containers and plastic bags, it is also common to see recycled content in carpeting and decking. Whenever possible, purchase items with recycled content to support the economic markets our curbside and drop-off collection programs depend upon. If you are interested in other tips from Will County, visit us at willcountygreen.com any time and visit the Green Guide tab for a list of items that can be recycled easily, but not through the curbside programs.