Know what happens to your waste
Resin codes #1-7 explained — what's actually recyclable, the microplastics crisis, and industry myths debunked.
Recyclability: Widely Recycled
Common products: Water and soda bottles, Salad dressing and cooking oil bottles, Peanut butter jars, Clamshell food containers, Polyester clothing fiber, Mouthwash bottles
Recycled into: New bottles (bottle-to-bottle, limited cycles), Polyester fiber for clothing and carpet, Strapping and packaging, Fleece jackets and insulation, Automotive parts
Recyclability: Widely Recycled
Common products: Milk and juice jugs, Laundry detergent bottles, Shampoo and conditioner bottles, Motor oil containers, Household cleaner bottles, Some plastic bags (grocery store bags)
Recycled into: Plastic lumber and fencing, Playground equipment, Recycling bins and trash cans, Drainage pipes, Detergent bottles (if high purity), Floor tiles
Recyclability: Rarely Recycled
Common products: Pipes and plumbing fittings, Vinyl siding and window frames, Shower curtains, Cling wrap (older formulations), Blister packaging, Credit cards, Medical tubing
Recycled into: Speed bumps and parking stops, Flooring, Garden hoses, Industrial-grade pipes
Recyclability: Limited — Store Drop-off Only
Common products: Plastic bags (grocery, bread, newspaper), Squeezable bottles, Shrink wrap and stretch film, Dry cleaning bags, Produce bags, Six-pack rings, Furniture covers
Recycled into: Composite lumber, Trash can liners, Shipping envelopes, Floor tile, Playground equipment (mixed with HDPE)
Recyclability: Increasingly Accepted
Common products: Yogurt containers, Butter and margarine tubs, Ketchup and syrup bottles, Medicine bottles and caps, Straws, Bottle caps, Takeout containers (microwave-safe), Disposable diapers (outer layer)
Recycled into: Automotive battery cases, Brooms and brushes, Bike racks, Ice scrapers, Storage bins, Trays
Recyclability: Almost Never Recycled
Common products: Styrofoam cups and takeout containers, Packing peanuts, Egg cartons (foam type), Meat and produce trays (foam), CD cases and jewel cases, Disposable razors, Insulation boards
Recycled into: Insulation, License plate frames, Rulers, New foam packaging (rare)
Recyclability: Rarely Recycled
Common products: Water cooler jugs (polycarbonate), Baby bottles (older, pre-BPA ban), Nylon products, Bioplastics (PLA, PHA), Acrylic (Plexiglass), Fiberglass, Multi-layer packaging
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, Custom applications (varies widely)
Reality: The chasing arrows symbol with a number is a Resin Identification Code, created by the plastics industry in 1988. It identifies the type of plastic, NOT whether it can be recycled. This deliberate design similarity to the recycling symbol has been called one of the greatest greenwashing campaigns in history.
Reality: Only about 5-6% of plastic waste in the US is actually recycled (EPA, 2021). Of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic ever produced, only 9% has been recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% accumulated in landfills or the natural environment.
Reality: Plastic degrades with each recycling cycle (downcycling). Polymer chains shorten, losing strength and clarity. A PET bottle might become fiber, then fill, then ultimately landfill. This is fundamentally different from glass and aluminum, which maintain quality through infinite recycling.
Reality: Most bioplastics (PLA from corn starch) require industrial composting at 58°C+ and do NOT break down in home compost, landfills, or the ocean. They contaminate conventional plastic recycling streams. Only about 1% of bioplastics are actually composted properly.
Reality: Chemical recycling (pyrolysis, depolymerization) is promoted by the petrochemical industry but remains largely unproven at scale. The American Chemistry Council has invested billions in marketing chemical recycling while most pilot plants have closed or downsized. Current chemical recycling processes often produce fuel, not new plastic — effectively a form of incineration.