Um . . . are you gonna throw that away?

;Try this:
Just for a day, start turning things upside-down. Check out the numbers on the bottoms of recyclable things. You've seen them - they run 1-7 and indicate the type of material an item is made of, which also determines its level of recyclability.

I've been having fun educating myself on these categories (it takes a certain kind of mind, I know...) and in case you're curious, thought I'd put together a little primer. Enjoy!


You're good to go! These items are recyclable in most areas.
(But first...do you need it?)

1 (PETE: polyethylene terephthalate)
found in clear plastic bottles and jars

2 (HDPE: high-density polyethlylene)
found in non-clear plastic milk jugs, detergent/bleach bottles, shampoo bottles, some plastic bags

6 (PS: polystyrene)
found in white foam bakery shells and meat trays, packing peanuts, styrofoam insulation, disposable coffee cups and lids, disposable cutlery


Well . . . where do you live? These are only recyclable in areas that have recycling facilities big enough to manage them.
(Psst...check out your town's website to see what it can and can't recycle. And/or...can you find a more sustainable alternative?)

3 (PVC: polyvinyl chloride)
found in cooking oil bottles, shrink wrap

4 (LDPE: low-density polyethylene)
found in plastic grocery bags, Ziploc bags, dry cleaning bags, produce bags, trash bags liners, disposable Tupperware

5 (PP: polypropylene)
found in yogurt containers, plastic bottle caps, drinking straws, syrup bottles, diapers


You're pretty much out of luck.
(Pssst...can you skip this purchase?)

7 (Other) a combination of plastics; generally considered non-recyclable




(Data extrapolated from: University of Mississippi Polymer Education Center, 1998.)


And don't forget:
REDUCE your need for stuff first. Buy less. Want less. Bring less into your home, put less out on the curb. Find other ways to scratch the itch.
REUSE everything, even if it means spending more to get a better item the first time around, then fixing it instead of replacing it.
RECYCLING should be a last resort, and unless you plan on keeping something pretty much indefinitely, strive to get out of the habit of making, buying, or tossing anything that's not recyclable.