How to recycle plastic How to recycle plastic

Plastic is everywhere nowadays. Single-use plastic containers account for a large proportion of the garbage thrown away per person every day. These plastics are typically not biodegradable and break down into toxic substances that leach into the land and groundwater. Fortunately, by recycling and reusing plastics, we can keep them out of landfills and provide a large amount of material for making a variety of new products. You can identify recyclable plastics by the triangular recycling symbol, usually found somewhere on the bottom of the bottle, with a number and letter abbreviation to indicate the type of plastic.

How to recycle plastics, this DIY DIY tutorial includes: understanding your plastics, knowing your choices, developing a system, reusing plastics, and doing crafts! If you want to learn how to recycle plastic, read this article from the Production Department to learn how to recycle plastic!

Know your plastic

1. 1PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate). "Recycle Type # 1" is most commonly used for soft drink bottles, water bottles, plastic beer bottles, plastic peanut butter jars, salad dressing bottles, vegetable oil bottles, and oven food trays. Once recycled, it is remade into fleece, tote bags, furniture, carpets and new beverage containers.
2. 2HDPE (high density polyethylene). "Recycling Type # 2" is for milk jugs, juice jugs, cleaning supply bottles, yogurt cups, some trash bags, and cereal box liners. Once recycled, it is remade into bottles, pens and building materials.
3. 3V (vinyl) or PVC. "Recycle Type # 3" is for some window cleaner bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, as well as clear food packaging, wainscoting, windows, pipes, and medical equipment. Occasionally it is recycled into building materials after being recycled by plastic lumber manufacturers.
4. 4LDPE (low density polyethylene). "Recycling Type # 4" is for plastic squeeze bottles, plastic shopping bags, dry cleaning bags, and bread bags. Once recycled, it is remade into trash can liners, shipping packages, and lumber.
5. 5PP (polypropylene). "Recycling Type # 5" is for straws, some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, medicine bottles, and hats. After recycling, it is remade into rakes, brooms, batteries, pallets.
6. 6PS (polystyrene). "Recycling Type # 6" is for disposable cups and plates, CD cases, egg cartons, take-out food containers, and aspirin bottles. Once recycled, it is repurposed into bubble wrap, insulation, and more egg cartons and takeout food containers.
7. 7Other. "Recycling Type # 7" is used for multi-gallon water bottles, ballistic materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod cases, nylon. It is not commonly recycled, but is sometimes remade into wood.< /li>

Learn your choices

1. 1Be clear about recycling in your community. Many towns and cities now have drop-off points and even roadside municipal recycling stations. However, every community is different. So, check with your local government about what facilities and options are available in the area.
2. 2Order a recycling bin for curbside recycling. In some communities, you can place your recycling items out just like you would with trash—all you need to do is sign up for the program and get your recycling bin.
   • Sometimes this requires a one-time fee or an annual fee, just like garbage collection, but it makes recycling so easy that its worth paying a little extra.
   • If you live in an apartment, you probably already have a recycling bin in your building. Ask your administrator.
3. 3Put your recycling items at the recycling point. Some places don't have curbside recycling, but there are usually large recycling bins, often in public places like schools, churches or municipal buildings.
4. 4Take the plastic directly to your local recycling center. Search online or ask local officials where your local recycling center is. If the recycling center accepts plastic, you can take it to them regularly.
   • Some recycling depots will pay you a few cents for each item you turn in. You can make a little extra money by collecting recycled items from friends and neighbors and delivering them to recycling bins.
5. 5Understand how the recycle bin is handled. Some recycling centers will sort and clean the recycling, so you only need to throw the cans, plastics and waste paper there; while at other recycling centers, you will need to put different materials Separate and possibly remove paper labels. Do your best to follow the rules.

Develop a system

1. 1Prepare several recycling baskets at home. Place them near your main trash can so you don't throw out recycling items out of laziness.
   • If you need to sort recycling items, you can prepare multi-chamber or partitioned trash cans so that you can complete the sorting while throwing away the garbage, saving time.
2. 2Classify recycling items by type. If recycledIf necessary, the station will separate waste paper from cardboard, plastic, glass, and cans one by one. This task can be annoying, but like other household chores, it becomes easier if you get into the habit of sorting your recycling every week.
3. 3Classify plastics numerically. Many recycling programs no longer require this, but you may need to separate the seven different types of recycled plastic.
4. 4Make sure your plastic is clean. The recycling program may not require you to do this, but it can help wash away residue and remove labels.
5. 5Clear out your recycling once a week. This way, bottles won't pile up and sorting won't be too hard.
   • If the recycling center is out of the way, try sorting and storing items once a week, and going to the recycling center about once a month.

Plastic reuse

1. 1Container reuse. Just because the liquid in the bottle is gone, doesn't mean the bottle is useless. A lot of plastic soapBottles can be refilled with larger bottles of hand soap or dish soap. You can reuse plastic bottles for a variety of items.
   • Be careful not to drink water from the same plastic bottle over and over again. Harmful chemicals can leak from some plastics over time. Its best to use old plastic bottles to store non-consumable items.
2. 2Use medicine bottles to hold trinkets. From coins to loose nuts to craft supplies, these small, sturdy plastic bottles are the perfect place to hold those little items.
3. 3Reuse plastic bags at home. Plastic shopping bags make great bin liners, packaging materials, or lunch bags.

Let’s do some crafting!

1. 1Make useful wires out of plastic soda bottles.
2. 2Make a soda bottle candy dish.
3. 3Make a wasp trap out of plastic bottles.
4. 4Make an elegant vase out of plastic bottles.
5. 5Make a computer bag out of a plastic bag.
6. 6Make a cute flower pot out of an old milk jug.
7. 7Use plastic bottle caps to make pill boxes or needle rings.
8. 8Make glow stick stage lights.
9. 9 Make a handy funnel out of a plastic bottle.

Tips

• Some recyclers will pay to recycle plastic, so if you want to make a little money, shop around and see where the prices are best.

Warning

• Plastics can last a long time, but as they break down, some plastics can leak harmful or carcinogenic chemicals into the liquids they contain. Don't reuse single-use plastic water bottles. Buy a stainless steel water bottle to replace it.
• Do not attempt to dispose of plastic by burning it. The smoke from combustion is unpleasant and even harmful, and the residue is harmful to the environment.

Extended reading:

1. Tutorial on turning plastic bottles into treasure and making microphones and children’s toys

2. Video step-by-step instructions on how to make a beautiful flowerpot from a laundry detergent bottle

3. I spent money to buy flower pots OUT. Let’s see how DIY experts cut laundry detergent bottles into flower pots!

4. Tutorial on making handmade wind chimes from waste plastic beverage bottles

5. Use old bottles in new ways. Turn old wine bottles into treasures and DIY beautiful table lamps