Is there anywhere in the country that takes #5?
What about others?
I know that we take #1 and #2, but it seems SO much has to be thrown in the trash...
Thanks!
2006-12-07 08:01:20 · 3 answers · asked by Molly 6 in Environment
The numbers on plastic bottles indicate the type of plastic and how easy or hard it is to recycle.
It is really a question of economics when it comes to recycling plastic. #1 and #2 plastics are easy and don't take a great deal of energy and money to recycle. Higher numbers are harder to recycle and use much more energy and money to process.
Basically, the reason most municipalities don't recycle high numbered plastics is that the cost of recycling them outweighs the benefits. Put another way, it uses more energy and natural resources than we would save by recycling those plastics .
2006-12-07 08:17:15 · answer #1 · answered by Jay E. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is where as a consumer (root definition: destroyer) you come into play, you try and buy only one and two plastics. Remember there are 4"'R's", refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle.
2006-12-07 08:18:25 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly L 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately recycling depends on the community and what they accept. And that depends on their markets available.
2006-12-07 08:20:46 · answer #3 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋