Recycling codes: What do they mean? - 1-800-Got-Junk

There are three types of paper recycling codes: Cardboard (PAP-20); Mixed Paper (PAP-21); Plain Paper (PAP-22). To keep this information ... Skiptomaincontent MainSubMenu Search Search Fulltextsearch Search Languages EnglishCanadaCanada(Français) BookOnline AllArticles EnvironmentRecyclingcodes:Whatdotheymean?By TOM Share Tweet Share Email Weallwanttoworktowardagreenerplanet,butnoteverythingcanberecycledinthesameway.Toensureasmanyitemsaspossiblestayoutofthelandfill,itisimportanttopayattentiontothesmallcodesstampedontoplastic,glass,andpaperproducts,astheyletyouknowhowtorecycletheitemproperly. Ifyou’veeverwonderedhowrecyclingworks,readonforalistofrecyclingcodesandhowtonavigatethem.  PlasticRecyclingCodes AccordingtoNationalGeographic,ashocking91%ofplasticisn’trecycled.Onewaytohelplowerthatnumberisbyincreasingyourknowledgearoundthedifferentwaysvariousplastictypesgetrecycled.Plasticshavesevendifferentrecyclingcodes.Usuallythehigherthenumberthemoredifficultitistorecycle. 1.Polyethyleneterephthalate(PET/PETE)  PETorPETE,isverycommon,easytorecycle,andisacceptedbymostmunicipalrecyclingprograms.Thistypeofplasticiscommonlyfoundindisposablefoodanddrinkcontainersincluding:waterbottles,popbottles,prepared/frozenfoodcontainers.  2.High-densitypolyethylene(HDPE) Thistypeofplasticisnon-transparent.Itisalsowidelyacceptedinmunicipalrecyclingprograms.HDPEisfoundinhouseholdcleanerbottles,shampoobottles,yogurtcontainers,andmore. 3.Polyvinylchloride(PVC) PVCismoredifficulttorecyclethanthefirsttwoplasticsmentionedabove.Wanttoknowwhy?Unfortunately,PVCisknowntocontainphthalates,asuspectedcarcinogen.Thistypeofplasticcanbefoundwithinchildren’stoysandavarietyofbottlesincludingdetergentandshampoo. 4.Low-densitypolyethylene(LDPE) Thistypeofplasticissoftandflexible,andcancommonlybefoundinthinplasticbags.Slowlybutsurely,thistypeofplasticisbeingaddedasanacceptableitemtorecycle.However,pleasechecktomakesureit’sacceptedinyourarea.Onewaytoworkaroundthisistouse reusablefabricbagsinsteadoftheplasticversion.  5.Polypropylene(PP) Thistypeofplasticcanbefoundinstraws,soft-drinkcups,andotherfoodcontainerslikeutensils.PPPlasticcanberecycled,buttobesafepleasechecktomakesureit’sacceptedlocally. 6.Polystyrene(PS) Thistypeofplasticisalsoknownasstyrofoam,whichiscommonlyusedintakeoutcontainersanddisposablecups.Unfortunately,PScontainsstyrenewhichisaknowncarcinogen.Itisnotcommonlyacceptedwithinrecyclingprograms.  7.Other Includesplasticsnotincludedintheprevioussixcategories,includingBPA,polycarbonateandbio-basedplastics.  GlassRecyclingCodes Mostglassfoodandbeveragecontainerscanberecycled,justbesuretorinsethemoutfirst!However,otherkindsofglass,likewindows,ovenware,Pyrex,andcrystalaremanufacturedthroughadifferentprocessandcannotberecycled.Therearethreetypesofglassrecyclingcodes: MixedGlass(GL-70) ClearGlass(GL-71) GreenGlass(GL-72) PaperRecyclingCodes Mostpaperproductscanberecycled.However,dirtyorgreasypaper,alongwithlaminatedpaper,cannotberecycled.Therearethreetypesof paperrecyclingcodes: Cardboard(PAP-20) MixedPaper(PAP-21) PlainPaper(PAP-22) Tokeepthisinformationtopofmind,printoutourhandyonepageRecyclingCodesGuide!Putitupinyourkitchenornearyourrecyclingbinsforeasyreference(orsnapaphotoofitifyouwanttobeextragreen!). RecycleJunkRemoval Share Tweet Share Email WEMAKEJUNKDISAPPEAR. Noobligation,inpersonquotes. Quickandeasyonsitepayment. Nohiddenfees. Responsibledisposal. BookNow Joinuson: SimilarInterests EnvironmentRecyclingforkids:Smallstepstowardabetterfuture Teachingkidstocarefortheenvironmentcanhelpthemlearnimportantlifevalues.Learnhowyoucaninvolvekidsofallagesinrecycling. Environment18recyclingtipsforcollegestudents Wanttomakeyourcollegemoreeco-friendly?Withthesetipsyou’llbeabletoreduceyourenvironmentalfootprintandkeepyourcampusgreen! EnvironmentThedefinitiveguidetojunkremoval Curiousaboutthehistoryofjunkremoval,howjunkgetsrecycled,ortheitemswetake?Readallaboutitandmoreinthiscomprehensiveguide! VerifyingZIPCode...