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A Refresher: Ways to Recycle More Plastics

Recycling confusion is so common that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that even though nearly 75% of the waste in the United States is recyclable, we only recycle about 30% of it.

To help you play your part in circularity by recycling, here are some tips for how you can recycle even more plastic.

1. What to do with plastic bottles

When it comes to plastic bottles – meaning the neck is skinnier than the body – recycling is easy. Whether large, small, wide or skinny, plastic bottles typically go into the recycling bin.

2. What’s the deal on plastic caps?

Recyclers usually want your bottle caps, but unless they’ve been twisted back onto a bottle, they can fall through spaces in recycling equipment. So before tossing into the blue bin, make sure caps are screwed on. It’s also important to squeeze the bottle or wash it to remove as much of the bottle’s original contents as possible.

3. Most plastic containers make the cut

Plastic containers and lids are a bit trickier. While bottles are usually collected for recycling, yogurt containers or butter tubs may or may not be collected in your local community. KNIB will take most clean plastic with the numbers 1-5 on them. To find this number. look on the plastic container, usually on the bottom. There will be 3 arrows in the shape of a triangle with a number in it. If the number is a 1 - 5, then we will take it.

4. Recycle plastic bags while shopping

Plastic sandwich bags, produce bags, grocery bags and more flexible plastic products can get caught in the sorting equipment at recycling facilities, so they are not collected in most curbside collection programs. But thousands of grocery stores and retailers like Target, Walmart and Lowe’s will collect plastic bags and wraps for recycling. (Check for a bin at the store entrance.) Find a drop off location near you that will take them off your hands the next time you’re out shopping.

5. When in doubt, leave it out

The tips provided above should make recycling plastics a whole lot easier. But when you’re not sure whether you should recycle something, either check online to see what your community recycles or leave it out of the bin. Yes, there is a downside to guessing. Plastic items like old video cassette tapes, garden hoses, CDs and bowling balls do more than take up space. They can damage expensive recycling equipment or contaminate an otherwise valuable stream of recyclable material and make it unusable. When in doubt, leave it out.

6. Skip the baggage

Contrary to popular belief, you should NOT bag up your recyclables before placing them in your blue bin. When plastic bags enter the recycling facility, they can shut down the sorting machines. So, skip the plastic garbage bag next time you recycle, and place your recyclable items loosely in your recycle bin.