Why are most plastics marked with a number inside a recycling symbol? The simple answer is that each number represents the type of resin made to produce the plastic.
Because each resin is different, these numbers affect how and where you can recycle plastics. You don’t have to remember the name. Plastics are identified by the numbers 1-7.
Here are some common products associated with each number:
1 – PET (Polyethylene terephthalate): soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays and water bottles.
2 – HDPE (High-density polyethylene): milk bottles, detergent bottles, and grcoery/trash/retail bags.
3 – PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders and plastic pipes.
4 – LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): dry cleaning bags, produce bags, and squeezable bottles.
5 - PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps and drinking straws.
6 – PS (Polystyrene): compact disc holders, Styrofoam packing peanuts, Styrofoam cups and plastic tableware.
7 – Other: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware.
PET and HDPE are the most common forms of plastic, so they are typically the easiest to find recycling locations for.
by Matt Gray
How can your blue jeans protect the environment? When you are done with a pair of denim blue jeans, if they’re beyond being donated to a worthy charity to help others, they can be recycled. Once recycled, the denim fibers can be used to create useful products. This creates a positive impact on the environment and reduces landfill usage. What types of things can recycled denim be turned in to? Home insulation, or with a little creativity you can recycle your old jeans into potholders or make a quilt.
Since our purpose here is to provide “Eco Friendly Ways to Grow Your Business”, I’d like to offer some other ideas for how recycled denim fibers combined with recycled post industrial plastic can be used to grow your business:
- Paper Clip Message Holder
- Coaster
- 12″ Ruler
- Small Flowerpot
Each of these items can be imprinted with your company logo and ad message. We can also include recycling copy on any item. Using these products helps you make blue jeans green! In addition to denim any of these items can also be made from recycled money, recycled newspaper, recycled sawdust and recycled Yellow Pages. When you use any of these items you help protect the environment while promoting your business. Great ways to Be Green and Be Seen!
