Why are America’s plastics producers so committed to recycling? The answer is simple: because plastics are too valuable to waste. And, doing right by the environment is also a good thing for business—the recycling industry is a growing part of the economy in California and across the United States, and these businesses rely on used plastics as a vital raw material.
Businesses in the recycling industry rely on each of us to make sure our used plastic bottles, bags and other containers make it into the recycling bin. By doing our part, each of us helps to give these valuable materials a second life as carpeting, fleece jackets, durable backyard decks, home building products, and new bottles and bags.
What types of plastic can be recycled? Well, the types of plastics that are collected curbside can vary by community, so it’s always a good idea to check with your local municipality. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Almost ALL curbside programs collect plastic bottles, a category that includes:
- Milk jugs
- Water, soft drink, juice, and beer bottles
- Bottles from shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent and other household cleaners
- Salad dressing, cooking oil, and condiment bottles
- Food jars, such as peanut butter and mayonnaise
In addition, 66% of California’s communities collect other plastic containers, such as:
- Food containers for yogurt, butter, cottage cheese, deli purchases or washed salad greens
And a few cities, such as Los Angeles, collect plastic foodservice items such as:
- Takeout containers, disposable plates and cups, meat trays, and egg cartons
Perhaps one of the fastest growing areas of plastics recycling is plastic bags and product wraps.
- Plastic bags and product wraps – a category that includes plastic shopping bags, dry cleaning bags, news paper bags and wraps from bread, paper towels, bathroom tissue, diapers, and cases of beverages – can be recycled at major grocery stores and pharmacies throughout the State of California. Read more here.
So that covers what you can recycle at home and at the grocery store. To help increase away-from-home recycling in California, ACC has forged a number of great partnerships throughout the State that have resulted in the placement and maintenance of hundreds of seasonal and permanent recycling bins at rest stops, beaches and parks around the state.
Look for our recycling bins throughout California and, if you send us a photo of your local bins, we’ll post it here!