By Dr. Julie Petter
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01 May, 2024
A Column by: Dr. Julie Peller The recycling of many common glass, paper, and metal products keeps these materials in circulation. This significantly reduces mining of earth’s resources, manufacturing, and the associated damaging pollutants. There are some materials that CANNOT be recycled: light bulbs, mirrors, window glass, drinking glasses, used paper plates, tissues paper, candy and gum wrappers, waxed paper products, paper towels, aerosol cans, scrap metal, shredded paper, and Christmas lights. Most plastics can’t be recycled either. Many people wrongly assume that most common plastics are recyclable and recycled. Most plastics that we use in a typical day aren’t recyclable, and have become a horrific pollution burden on the earth and its inhabitants. The triangle symbol on numerous plastic items suggests they are recyclable; however, it is just an identification number. Plastics designated 1 and 2 (PET and HDPE) are mostly recyclable in their original forms, while most of the others are not acceptable for recycling. Plastic water bottles made of PET are recyclable/downcycled. (Keep in mind: some plastic water bottles are made of non-recyclable plastic and all these bottles release thousands of micro and nanoplastics that are detrimental to human health.) PET plastics can be converted to other plastic materials, such as reusable plastic bags and even plastic clothes (polyester), but then these plastics are mostly no longer recyclable. HDPE plastic milk jugs can be recycled/downcycled into composite lumber or outdoor furniture, which are then no longer recyclable. Overall, you can be sure you are recycling plastic correctly if you put number 1 and 2 plastics – free of debris – in your recycling bin. Contact your local recycling provider to find out if other plastics are acceptable. An important note from local recycling companies is that recyclables should not be put in plastic bags, as they get caught in the materials sorting equipment. Nearly 18,000 collection sites in the US accept just plastic bags and other film plastics, but these are not accepted in the curbside collections; less than 1% of plastic bags are recycled. Unfortunately, a recent study by ABC News that tracked the movement of plastic bags from a number of these special collection sites showed evidence that half of the plastic bags ended up in landfills or incinerators –not at a recycling center. The sustainable way forward is to reduce material purchases, invest in materials that are long-lasting/reusable and avoid materials that cannot be part of the circular economy (the non-recyclables). If we all adopt these practices, we will create a cleaner world for the future.