Plastic

Recycle plastic

Recycle plastic

Plastics are made from crude oil, coal and gas.  All of these are natural resources that are not renewable. Therefore, it is important for us to be careful in how we use and discard plastics. 

There are many different kinds of plastic, but they can be easily sorted into one of seven categories. Each different kind of plastic has particular properties that make it suitable for various applications. As part of the plastics manufacturing process, a Plastics Identification Code is stamped onto plastic products. This code is a number located inside the chasing arrows. The number will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.  This code does not necessarily mean that the product is recyclable in your area. 

Recyclable plastic can be placed in recycling bins for household collections where the service is available or taken to a Transfer Station.

Recycling Process
Plastics collected for recycling are taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where they are sorted and baled into their different codes.  Each different code of plastic is then transported to the relevant plastic recycler.  Large contaminants are removed before the plastic is shredded and then washed to remove small contaminants.  The plastic is then melted and made into small pellets.  These pellets are sold to suitable companies for the production of new plastic products.

Recycling Rules

• Rinse all plastic containers
• Remove lids, as they are often a different kind of plastic to the actual container
• Squash plastic containers before placing in recycling bin or container