Sunrise Enterprises who collects all the recycling at our 11 transfer stations has worked hard with us (Douglas County Public Works) to expand what it takes this past year. So has Roseburg Disposal who accepts all rigid plastics curbside. They both used to only take bottles with a neck. Plastic film (bags) are collected at all major retail stores and recycling stations.
So to make it simple, the number does not matter. I repeat, the number does not matter. If it is plastic and clean, it is recyclable. The numbers only refer to the chemical composition and not recyclability. This is problematic because every municipality has different recycling standards and collects a different mix of material. This is actually great news because it reduces your work. By taking all plastics, we have removed some of the objections to recycling like “I don’t like to sort so much” or “I don’t know if it is recyclable, so I will just throw it away”.
The following is a simple guide to illustrate what the numbers mean:
PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, new containers
PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products.
HDPE (high density polyethylene)Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners.
Recycled into: New bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing.
HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.
V (Vinyl) or PVCFound in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping.
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mud flaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats.
PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don’t let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC (or any other plastic for that matter), because it releases toxins.
LDPE (low density polyethylene)Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile.
LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications.
PP (polypropylene)Found in: Some yogurt containers, baling twine, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles.
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays.
Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid.
PS (polystyrene)Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases.
Recycling: Only rigid containers are accepted. Expanded Styrofoam is NOT recyclable in Douglas County.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers.
Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products — in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists’ hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don’t accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.
MiscellaneousFound in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, ‘bullet-proof’ materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products.
A wide variety of plastic resins that don’t fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors. However, manufacturers have removed the harmful elements from newly made products.
Remember, by Reduceing, Reusing, and Recycling we can Trash Douglas County Less.
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