Plastics | Lake Region Solid Wa

Plastics Recycling

Plastic products are a part of everyday life, from food containers and beverage bottles to detergent jugs and household packaging. Recycling plastics helps conserve natural resources, reduces landfill waste, and gives valuable materials a second life as new products.

Not all plastics are recyclable, however, and understanding which plastics are accepted by your local recycling program is the key to recycling successfully..

Understanding the Symbol and Numbers for Plastics

Many people assume that the number inside the "chasing arrows" symbol tells them whether an item is recyclable. It does NOT.

The symbol is called the Resin Identification Code (RIC) and it identifies only the type of plastic resin used to manufacture the product — NOT whether it can be recycled.

Number

Plastic Type

PET or PETE - Polyethylene Terephthalate

HDPE - High-Density Polyethylene

PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

LDPE - Low-Density Polyethylene

PP- Polypropylene

PS - Polystyrene

Other- Mixed or specialty plastics

Common Products

Water bottles, Soft drink bottles, salad dressing bottles

Milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles

Plumbing pipe, vinyl products

Bread bags, grocery bags, plastic film, squeezable bottles

Yogurt containers, butter tubs, medicine bottles

Foam cups, disposable plates, packing foam

Water cooler bottles, some reusable containers, bioplastics

Usually Recyclable?

Yes. Often

Rarely

Sometime

Rarely

The chasing arrow or triangle of arrows It is an unregulated symbol that anyone can use, and it does NOT mean that the item is made from recycled plastic, or that it will get recycled if it is dropped in the recycle bin.

What Can be Recyled?

Accepted plastics vary by recycling program, but many Kansas communities accept common household containers such as:

Accepted Materials

✓ Plastic beverage bottles
✓ Milk jugs
✓ Laundry detergent bottles
✓ Shampoo and conditioner bottles
✓ Household cleaner bottles
✓ Yogurt containers
✓ Margarine and cottage cheese tubs
✓ Plastic food jars

What Cannot be Recycled?

Many plastic items are not accepted in curbside recycling because they are difficult to sort or have limited recycling markets.

Common items that should NOT placed in the recycling bin:

✗ Plastic bags and grocery bags

✗ Plastic wrap and film

✗ Styrofoam™ foam packaging and cups
✗ Garden hoses
✗ Toys
✗ Disposable utensils
✗ Straws
✗ Chip bags and candy wrappers
✗ Flexible food pouches
✗ Motor oil containers containing residual oil
✗ Medical waste

Preparing Plastics for Recycling

Food residue and contamination can reduce the value of recyclable plastics and interfere with processing. To improve the quality of recyclable materials:

Empty all containers.
Give containers a quick rinse.
Replace caps only if your local program requests it.
Keep recyclable plastics clean and dry.
Do not place recyclables inside plastic bags unless instructed.

Should I leave the caps on bottles?

Many programs now accept plastic caps when they are screwed back onto empty bottles. If not attached they should not be included, as anything smaller than a credit card should not be included in the recycling bin.

Can I recycle plastic bags?

Plastic bags should not be placed in curbside recycling bins unless your local program specifically accepts them. Many grocery and retail stores offer separate collection bins for clean plastic bags and film.

Plastics Recycling in the Lake Region

Residents, schools, and businesses are encouraged to recycle plastics whenever possible. However, not every county within the Lake Region accepts the same types of plastics for recycling. Additional details are available on each of the county pages: Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami, Osage, and Shawnee.

Plastic Facts

2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away every hour
Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the earth four times
Recycling plastic takes 88% less energy than making it from raw materials
Only 12% of disposable water bottles are recycled in the U.S. each year
Plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to decompose
Recycling one ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1,000–2,000 gallons of gasoline or the equivalent energy usage of a two person household for one yea
Polystyrene foam, also known as Styrofoam, may never fully decompose.

Resources

Find a recycling drop-off center for flexible plastic film through PlasticFilmRecycling.org
Learn more about an alternate option for recycling plastic film and bags through NexTrex
Locate recycling and reprocessing facilities nationwide using the US EPA Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map.
Reference the Association of Plastic Recyclers for corporate sustainability and resin certifications
Resources for recycling information and guidelines in large Kansas Cities include Recycle Spot, Bridging The Gap, Pro Kansas Recycling