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  • Recyclable: 1, 2, and 5
  • Non-recyclable: 3 (very bad)

In depth:

  • PET or PETE (#1): polyethylene terephthalate (most water bottles & soda bottles, juice bottles)
  • HDPE (#2): high-density polyethylene (milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles)
  • PVC (#3): Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (soft PVC often contains and can leach toxic phthalates, off-gases, some cling wraps, children's toys, fashion accessories, shower curtains, detergent and spray bottles)
  • LDPE (#4): low-density polyethylene (plastic shopping bags, cling wraps, baby bottles, reusable drink & food containers, not generally recycled in curbside programs, recyclable at most centers)
  • PP (#5): polypropylene (baby bottles, yogurt and deli takeout containers, Tupperware and Rubbermaid types of reusable containers, recyclable in most curbside programs and centers)
  • PS (#6): polystyrene (takeout food containers, egg containers, plastic cutlery, leaches styrene - neurotoxin and possible carcinogen - some centers will take it)
  • Everything else (#7): includes PC (polycarbonate) which leaches bisphenol A, a hormone disrupter that mimics estrogen, PLA (polyactide) is a corn-based plastic, as opposed to a petroleum-based one, and isn't easily recycled, but is compostable in industrial composts (home composts aren't hot enough)
jul 31 2009 ∞
feb 25 2021 +