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| Integrated Waste Management |
TO RECYCLE, OR NOT TO RECYCLE PLASTICS - THAT IS THE QUESTION!
(and we have the answers) |
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Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. For instance, this could mean melting down soft drink bottles then casting them as plastic chairs and tables.
Before recycling, plastics are sorted according to their resin identification code, a method of categorization of polymer types, that was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988.
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Seven groups of plastic polymers, each with specific properties, are used worldwide for packaging applications (see below). Each group of plastic polymer can be identified by its Plastic Identification code (PIC) - usually a number or a letter abbreviation. For instance, Low-Density Polyethylene can be identified by the number 4 and/or the letters "LDPE". The PIC appears inside a three-chasing arrow recycling symbol. The symbol is used to indicate whether the plastic can be recycled into new products.
The PIC was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. which provides a uniform system for the identification of different polymer types and helps recycling companies to separate different plastics for reprocessing. Manufacturers of plastic products are required to use PIC labels in some countries/regions and can voluntarily mark their products with the PIC where there are no requirements.
Consumers can identify the plastic types based on the codes usually found at the base or at the side of the plastic products, including food/chemical packaging and containers. The PIC is usually not present on packaging films, as it is not practical to collect and recycle most of this type of waste. |
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YES |
Polyethylene terephthalate, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers.
PET bottle recycling is more practical than many other plastic applications. The primary reason is that plastic carbonated soft drink bottles and water bottles are almost exclusively PETE, which makes them more easily identifiable in a recycle stream. PETE has a resin identification code of 1. One of the uses for a recycled PET bottle is for the manufacture of polar fleece material. It can also make fiber for polyester products.
Because of the recyclability of PETE and the relative abundance of post-consumer waste in the form of bottles, PET is rapidly gaining market share as a carpet fiber. Since 1999, more than 17 billion bottles have been recycled into carpet fiber
PETE, as with many plastics, is also an excellent candidate for thermal disposal, as it is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with only trace amounts of catalyst elements (but no sulphur). PETE has the energy content of soft coal. |
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YES |
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum.
HDPE is resistant to many different solvents and has a wide variety of applications, including: Laundry detergent bottles, milk jugs, vehicle fuel tanks, plastic lumber, folding tables & chairs, storage sheds, bottles suitable for use as refillable bottles and even hula hoops!
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YES |
Polyvinyl chloride, (IUPAC Poly(chloroethanediyl)) commonly abbreviated PVC, is the third most widely used thermoplastic polymer after polyethylene and polypropylene
It can be made softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticizers, the most widely-used being phthalates. In this form, it is used in clothing and upholstery, and to make flexible hoses and tubing, flooring, to roofing membranes, and electrical cable insulation. It is also commonly used in figurines and in inflatable products such as waterbeds, pool toys, and Inflatable structures.
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YES |
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic made from petrolem. It was the first grade of polyethylene, produced in 1933 by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) using a high pressure process via free radical polymerisation . Its manufacture employs the same method today. LDPE is commonly recycled, and has the number "4" as its recycling symbol.
LDPE is widely used for manufacturing various containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing, plastic bags for computer components, and various molded laboratory equipment. Its most common use is in plastic bags. Other products made from it include trays & general purpose containers, food storage containers, six pack soda can rings, & computer components. |
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NO |
Polystyrene, sometimes abbreviated PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the aromatic monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is commercially manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry. Polystyrene is one of the most widely used kinds of plastic.
Polystyrene is not easily recycled because of its light weight (especially if foamed) and its low scrap value. It is generally not accepted in curbside collection recycling programs.
Pure solid polystyrene is a colorless, hard plastic with limited flexibility. It can be cast into molds with fine detail. Polystyrene can be transparent or can be made to take on various colors.
Solid polystyrene is used, for example, in disposable cutlery, plastic models, CD and DVD cases, and smoke detector housings. Products made from foamed polystyrene are nearly ubiquitous, for example packing materials, insulation, and foam drink cups.
Polystyrene can be recycled, and has the number "6" as its recycling symbol. Unrecycled polystyrene, which does not biodegrade, is often abundant in the outdoor environment, particularly along shores and waterways, and is a form of pollution. |
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YES |
Other (often polycarbonate or ABS)
Polycarbonate is becoming more common in housewares as well as laboratories and in industry, especially in applications where any of its main features—high impact resistance, temperature resistance, optical properties—are required.
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) (chemical formula (C8H8· C4H6·C3H3N)n) is a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products such as piping, musical instruments (most notably recorders and plastic clarinets), golf club heads, automotive body parts, wheel covers, enclosures, protective head gear, buffer edging for furniture and joinery panels, and toys.
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Public Works Integrated Waste Management Division |
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3777 Industrial Ave. . Hemet, CA 92544
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Phone: (951) 765-3777
| Fax: (951) 765-2493
| Contact via E-mail |
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