What Can I Recycle?
Thrift, saving, and re-use are habits earlier generations of Americans knew well. Recycling is simply a modern version of these character traits, helping us make the best use of our planet's limited natural resources. Recycling your daily newspaper, plastic bottles and other items is a great way to help.
See how the actions you take affect the environment.
Experience MoreWhat can I place in my recycling bin?
Plastics
What's Almost Never Accepted?
Products labeled with Code 3, 6, or 7 are less often accepted for recycling. Check with your local recycler.
Code 3 (V or PVC)
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Examples: Window cleaner and dishwashing detergent bottles. Some shampoo bottles. Cooking oil bottles. Clear food packaging. Siding. Windows. Piping, used in most blister packs.
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Recyclability: Although not usually recycled at municipal facilities, Code 3 may be accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
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Used to make: Decks, paneling, mud flaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats.
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PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications.
Code 6 (PS)
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Examples of polystyrene: Some over-the-counter medicine bottles. Compact disk cases. Expanded polystyrene examples include clamshell take-out containers, coffee cups, plates, and egg cartons. These are commonly referred to by the brand name Styrofoam®.
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Recyclability: Polystyrene is rarely accepted in most curbside recycling programs. Please check with your municipality for specifics.
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Used to make insulation, light-switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers.
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Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products usually called "expanded polystyrene." It is popularly known by the trademark Styrofoam®, which should not be placed in your recycling bin. Instead, there are a number of drop-off locations for expanded polystyrene, and they can be found at http://www.epspackaging.org/info.html.
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Each year, Americans throw away 25 billion polystyrene cups, enough to circle the Earth 436 times.
Code 7 (OTHER)
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Code 7 plastics may be found in three- and five-gallon water bottles. Bullet-proof materials. Sunglasses. DVDs. iPod® and computer cases. Signs and displays. Certain food containers. Nylon®.
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Code 7 means that the product in question is made with a resin other than the six "coded" resins; or that it is made of more than one type of plastic.
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There is very little recycling potential for most Code 7 plastics at this time.
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One exception: Polyactide, made from plants, and also known as PLA, is a biodegradable packaging material derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugar cane. Place polyactide packaging into a municipal composter or your own backyard compost pile.
To learn more about other plastic codes, mouse over
the symbols below.