RECYCLING TO THE RESCUE? NOT SO FAST.
ALL PLASTIC IS NOT CREATED EQUALLY
Recycling plastic is one of the hottest environmental topics today. As we have just discussed, the most powerful thing you can do as a consumer, is purchase and use less plastics. The next best thing you can do is to properly recycle. If you are on or near the water or a beach, it is a lot more obvious today to notice the accumulation of garbage and plastic waste. There are both social and economic as well as environmental consequences stemming from our waste generation and disposal habits, and there is no longer any doubt about the impact upon our fisheries, aquaculture, recreational activities, and global wellbeing. More people are getting interested in recycling, but there is a lot of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge regarding the recycling process. How many of us have a true understanding of what happens after our recycle bins are collected? Local governments are increasingly trying to provide recycling curbside collection services to its citizens, which is a good thing, but we still need a lot more local governments to participate in the process.
So, what do most people really know about recycling? Is everything we put into our recycling bins for pick-up recycled? Is everything we put into those bins even recyclable? Do we have any idea how and where its being recycled? In many cities, there are no detailed instructions about what should be recycled, and we are often only given broad recycling categories like wood, paper, plastic, and metal. Speaking for myself, I never looked too deeply into my recycling instructions or requirements. When I finally did, I was quite humbled.
When I began recycling, I put almost everything I thought was recyclable into the bins. And, when my recycle bins had been collected each week, I felt pretty good that I was helping the environment. I thought I was doing my part simply by placing my plastic waste in the bins, which was easy. When the bins were collected, it was now someone else’s responsibility to continue and complete the process. I had accomplished my sole responsibility which I committed to do each week.
It turns out that we consumers play a much more important role in the recycling process because the shape and condition of what we throw away are critical factors in determining the post-processing quality and value of whatever is being recycled. Most of us mistakenly assume plastic is single material and is the same from top to bottom. But there are hundreds of different types of plastics (also called polymers), and most people only encounter a few of the more common plastics.
Recycling plastic is critical because it reduces waste generation and increases sustainability. The adverse impacts and consequences of our disposal habits and waste generation of plastics is no longer in doubt. Our world’s plastic waste problem was already known and being discussed since the 1960’s, but there has been a big pushback by the plastics industry, and very little was accomplished for several decades. Now, however, people are beginning to educate themselves on the importance and necessity of plastic recycling and sustainable options for our planet.
The following are the most common plastics we encounter and not all of them are recyclable:
Type #1 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) is easily recyclable, is one of the most used plastics, and has the highest recycling value. It is strong, lightweight, and usually transparent. It is often used in food packaging like beverage bottles, food bottles and jars like salad dressings, ketchup, mayonnaise, honey, and peanut butter. It is also used in polyester rope or clothing.
Type #2 High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is the world’s most common plastic and is classified into 3 categories: high-density, low-density, and linear low density. HDPE is resistant to chemicals and moisture and is used in milk cartons, rigid pipes, buckets, cereal box liners, toys, and detergent bottles.
Type #3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl) is hard, rigid, and resistant to weather and chemicals. It is used in credit cards, toys for both humans and pets, plumbing pipes, oxygen masks, IV bags, medical tubing, and rain gutters.
Type #4 Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is a softer, clearer, more flexible form of HDPE and used in beverage cups, garbage bags, grocery bags, sandwich bags, bubble wrap and cling wrap.
Type #5 Polypropylene (PP) is a more durable and heat resistant type of plastic that can bend a little but retain its strength and shape. It is used for straws, hot food containers, packaging tape, disposable diapers, prescription bottles, bottle caps and DVD and CD boxes.
Type #6 Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam) is rigid, low-cost, and insulates well, which makes it useful in the food industry (takeout food containers and cups),the packaging industry (egg cartons), and construction industry (building insulation).
Type #7 Other, is NOT typically recyclable and includes plastics not included in, or combinations of, the first six categories. This category includes electronics, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses, clear plastic cutlery, baby bottles and sport bottles, and lighting fixtures.
Most paper cups have plastic in them. The outside of coffee cups is made with paper, and the inside is made of PP film or a wax layer to protect the coffee or liquid from leaking into the paper. Packaging containing a PP film or wax layer makes it almost non-recyclable because the recycling process becomes expensive and time consuming. Two or more different types of material in the same product also makes it difficult to recycle.
Dirty plastic waste is not recyclable. Most of us do not know that only clean plastic waste is recyclable. Think about what you may bethrowing into the recycle bin like pizza boxes with stuck cheese and tomato sauce stains. That is going to be difficult and often impractical to clean. How about dirty plastic food containers or plastic bottles of mayonnaise, mustard ,ketchup, or honey? You must rinse these to remove the residue inside and outside the bottle before placing in the recycle bin. It only takes a few extra minutes and really helps the entire process! Most plastic bottles and food containers can be recycled, but it is essential to wash or rinse them to remove or substantially reduce the amount of food waste being sent to the recycling center. It is also important to remove screwcaps from bottles you are recycling because the caps and bottles are made from different types of plastics. This is very helpful as we will see in the sorting process because if we do not remove them, the people at the recycling centers must remove the caps before the bottles can be processed. We can help save a lot of work, lost time, expense, and increase recycling productivity by doing a little bit extra, because in the end, waste disposal and recycling is everyone’s problem.
If we throw every kind of plastic into the recycling bin, we only hurt the process by decreasing the amount of plastic recycled because it becomes more difficult to separate the easier recyclable materials.
SOME BASICS ABOUT THEPLASTIC RECYCLING PROCESS
How much plastic is recycled?
Since the mass production of plastics began in the 1950s, we have produced over 9.1 billion tons of plastic. Out of all this plastic, we have only recycled around 9 percent of it. Out of the remaining 91 percent, around 12percent has been incinerated and 79 percent is currently in landfills.
Before degrading (if it even does degrade), the plastic will sit in landfills for the next hundreds of years and during that time even more plastic will accumulate.
What plastics can be recycled?
Not all types of plastic can be recycled, but how do you know which can and which cannot be recycled?
First check with your local government and/or your recycling company. It is extremely important to follow the guidelines of your recycling company regarding which plastics can and cannot be accepted. That is because things like dyes, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and pieces of biodegradable plastic may contaminate a batch of petroleum-based plastics, requiring the entire batch to be thrown away. There are also certain plastic products like rigid plastics or even certain types of plastic bags that may damage the machines. More importantly, if we do not discard our plastic in the correct place, it will never be recycled.
Check the bottom of the plastic product. On most plastic containers and bottles you will find a small number denoting the type of plastic that it is. This code is not required, but it is becoming more and more common.
Generally, plastic numbers 1, 2, 4 & 5can be recycled. These plastics are different types of polyethylene and polypropylene. They are used in items ranging from water bottles and toys to grocery bags. These plastics are the most common types used.
Plastic numbers 3, 6,and 7 cannot usually be recycled, or if recyclable, and more difficult to recycle and may require specialized machinery. These are PVC, polystyrene, and all other types of plastics not mentioned here. These plastics have also been shown to contain toxins and chemicals that cause human health problems. There are several different plastic recycling processes because there are many different types of plastic resins used in different types of plastic products. It’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all process. We are only focusing on household plastic waste because that is where most of us will be involved with recycling. So let’s take a closer look at the recycling process including the first step which is critically important, and which is our responsibility. The simplest of plastic recycling processes involves collecting, sorting, shredding, washing, melting, and pelletizing.
Knowledge About the Recycling Process is Critical
After the materials submitted for recycling are sorted, the two primary methods of recycling plastics are mechanical recycling where plastic is washed, ground, and melted, or chemical recycling where plastic is broken down into monomers to form new polymers to be reused. Most recycling facilities are becoming more efficient, but there are still quite a few problems in the plastic recycling process. As consumers and businesses begin to recycle more materials, the lack of knowledge on how to effectively recycle will only create bigger problems of contamination in the recycling process.
Plastic is not suited for all eco-friendly disposal solutions, as some plastics cannot be incinerated because they will release harmful gases. Plastic products designed with mixed plastics can cause serious problems in the recycling process. Contamination impeding the recycling process will also occur when recyclable and non-recyclable plastics are mixed, and by trying to recycle plastics soiled by food, adhesives, or chemicals. These contamination problems may lead to plastics being sent to landfills instead of being recycled.
What are the steps involved in recycling plastic after it is collected?
Sorting
Sorting is the next step after collection and delivery to the recycling location. If the recycling company has implemented a Single Stream Recycling System, where all materials are collected, they are first separated and sorted into different categories like glass, paper, or metals. Most of this sorting process is done automatically by machines but may also be done manually to eliminate as much contamination of the materials as possible. Depending upon the type of recycling facility or what recycled product is being produced, plastics are sorted in several different ways including: the type of plastic product (bags, containers, bottles, etc.), the type of plastic (material it is made with),color of the plastic, or even how it was made. This is important because different types of plastics must be processed in different ways and some recycling facilities can only recycle one type of plastic. If the wrong type of plastic is processed it can reduce the efficiency of the whole process and require the entire batch to be sent back again for resorting. Throughout the recycling process the plastic may be moved to different recycling plants specializing in different steps of the process. It can be energy intensive and the better educated we are about the process the more we can reduce the time and energy it requires.
Washing
Not all recycling processes are the same but washing plastics may be a necessary step before the plastic is further processed to remove impurities and whatever is not made from plastics. In addition to food residue, most containers also have labels and adhesives that also must be removed because non-plastic waste cannot be recycled. This doesn’t mean you should stop washing or rinsing the plastics before putting them in the bins for collection. As we discussed, the more educated we are in helping the process, the more we can really help save a lot of work, time, and energy and move the recycling process along faster and more smoothly.
Resizing and Compounding
The plastic waste is shredded or granulated into small particles which makes it easier to process and reshape. It also gives the facility another opportunity to remove any non-plastic waste like metals that haven’t been removed from the plastic.
Identifying and Separating Plastics
The now small plastic particles are tested to determine different qualities like density thickness, color and melting points, so they can be further classified. For example, the denser particles may be separated from the less dense particles.
Compounding
Compounding, the final step, is essentially when the small particles are smashed, melted together, and formed into plastic pellets. The pellets can then be sold to different companies to produce other plastic products. Some products made from recycled plastic bottles include artificial fleece, engineered wood products, carpeting, floor mats, tiles, furniture, motor oil, detergent bottles.
HOW CAN EACH OF US HELP
LESSEN EARTH’S PLASTIC PROBLEMS?
I am not going to get upon a soapbox and preach at anyone. Life is tough enough and we all have our own headaches, responsibilities, pressures, and worries. With all the crazy things happening around us, sometimes it’s just easier and more relaxing to simply tune out the world when we have the luxury of some free time. But believe it or not, each of us can take a few manageable steps to make a few small and simple changes in our lives that will be helpful to our beautiful planet in the long run.
We don’t need to instantly transform ourselves into environmentalists, ecotourists, or “tree-huggers.” That will take a lot of time and dedication and certainly isn’t for everyone. But I look at it this way: for every plastic bottle or bag I can forego purchasing or using, that will be one less unit of plastic that will not suffocate or be ingested by a fish, turtle, bird, or whale. I am now thinking of consequences my actions, however small, may have on our environment somewhere down the line. I never did this before. It isn’t easy until it becomes second nature to you. You may live hundreds or even thousands of miles from the oceans. But you don’t have to be near an ocean. All you have to do is look at your lakes, rivers , streams, springs, marshes, estuaries, and parks. The damage is everywhere. Here are a few suggestions for you to think about incorporating into your daily routine:
1. Try to avoid or minimize single use plastics (things you use for a super short time and then discard). You have already seen how these things are killing our environment. Do you really need that straw? If you cannot live without it, can you settle on a paper straw even if it’s not as comfortable or convenient as a plastic straw? The same with plastic plates and cutlery. Disposability is built into psyche and if it’s plastic, it’s disposable. The more convenient something is to dispose, the more havoc it is going to eventually wreak upon our environment. Let’s fight our impulses to inundate ourselves with disposable products. We can use metal or bamboo. Let’s get into the habit of washing and reusing instead of throwing everything away. These are easy changes to make.
2. Speak with your local governments about the recycling requirements. Learn how to recycle correctly. The more we can effectively recycle, the less waste will be incinerated or wind up in our waters or in landfills. Help make the recycling process more efficient by discarding clean, easily recyclable plastics, instead of dirty plastics that are difficult to recycle. Help improve the efficiency of getting more plastics recycled. This takes very little time and effort.
3. Use cloth bags for shopping. Just leave them in your car and they will be ready to use. If you must use shopping bags, use paper bags instead of plastic. Paper is usually much easier to recycle and more biodegradable. As you have seen, plastic bags are incredibly detrimental to the environment.
4. Use a refillable water bottle instead of all those easily disposable plastic bottles. I have been using a refillable bottle for several years, and it was easy once it became a habit. Each of us Americans can save 156 plastic bottles each year by using one refillable bottle. If only 1 million Americans made this simple change, that is 156 million less plastic bottles! Pretty cool right?
5. Replace plastic Tupperware with glass or steel containers. I know – you must wash them, but it is so much healthier for the planet than plastics floating around in our oceans. Don’t you think?
6. Let’s use the same mindset for food storage where we use so many sandwich bags, freezer bags, plastic wraps, and plastic storage containers. I know these are so darn easy and convenient to use! Instead of going cold turkey on all these plastic products, perhaps a little bit of ingenuity may help. For instance – instead of using hundreds of disposable plastic sandwich bags, freezer bags, and wrapping, we can use more reusable plastic containers. Yes, it’s still plastic, put you can substantially cut down on your plastic waste. You can also use reusable silicon Ziplock pouches which you can wash and dry.
7. Avoid using cosmetics that use microplastics. There are a lot of better alternatives.
These are all easy adjustments aimed at reducing our intake of plastic products and outflow of plastic waste. It is a win-win mindset designed to help us integrate a modern convenience like plastic into more responsible and sustainable behavior for our environment. If you want to go a step further toward helping the environment, here are some other ideas:
Join a community clean-up for a park, a beach, mangroves, or waters near the shore. Get some exercise, some sun, meet people, get educated, and when you are finished, feel good about yourself. Most of these cleanup sessions are only a few hours of your time. Or take a large garbage bag, a pair of gloves, and a garbage picker and go to the beach by yourself. Clean the sand for an hour and you will be surprised how many people you will meet who are doing the same thing.
Make a conscious effort to use less water. Cut down your shower time; don’t leave the water running while you are brushing your teeth, or washing the dishes. Make sure your toilets aren’t running or faucets are dripping.
