Recycling

Polyenylene Terephthalate is used to make soft drink bottles, water bottles, mouthwash bottles and beer bottles. It is also used in the following containers: peanut butter, salad dressing and vegetable oil containers as well as oven safe food trays.

PETE is the most popular plastic for bottled drinks because of low cost, light weight and it’s easy to recycle. PET has a low risk of breaking down and leaching into the product. This material is in high demand for recycling.

High-Density Polyethylene is used in milk jugs, juice bottles, shampoo bottles, bleach, detergent and household cleaning bottles as well as some trash bags, shopping bags, cereal liners, butter tubs and yogurt tubs.

HDPE carries a low risk of leaking into the product and can readily be recycled into many different products.

Polyvinyl Chloride can be found in window cleaner bottles, detergent bottles, and shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows and piping.

PVC is tough and it wears well in all weather conditions. PVC contains chlorine; it can release highly toxic dioxins and is very dangerous when burned. If you must cook with it don’t let the plastic touch your food.

Low-Density Polyethylene resins are used most often in making food packaging. LDPE is used to make squeezable ketchup bottles, jelly bottles, mustard bottles and other squeezable bottles. It is also used to make bread bags, frozen food bags and packaging, bakery bags, candy bags, ice bags, textile bags, mattress bags, dry cleaning and shopping bags, furniture, carpet and totes.

LDPE as a film is flexible and can be heat sealed; it is a good moisture barrier and has many applications.

Polypropylene is used in some syrup bottles, yogurt containers, ketchup bottles, lids/caps, straws and medicine bottles.

PP has a high melting point and is a good choice for containers that will be holding hot liquids.

Polystyrene can be in rigid form (hard plastic) or in a foam product known by its trademarked name Styrofoam. PS is used in disposable plates, cups, and tableware. PS is also used in meat trays, carry out containers, aspirin bottles and compact disc cases.

Research suggests that polystyrene can leach potential toxins into food, so you should never heat foods in Styrofoam or polystyrene containers. PS is gaining popularity as a recyclable material.