[Chat] Plastic recycling - more of the story

Private Person periwrinkled at hotmail.com
Tue Jan 15 17:10:41 EST 2008 


Dear Neighbors,
 
Here's a bit of what I've learned in reading about plastic recycling...
 
-- The resin number on the plastic container does not tell the whole story for its recyclability.  There are stabilizers and plasticizers that form different polymers.  #1s and #2s are often sorted again for hardness (#2 milk bottles are separated from #2 water bottles, for example) before they can be melted down, as the unlike polymers don't stay well-mixed. -- Bottle caps are not recyclable. -- #3 through #7 is pretty bad stuff, overall.  (PVC, polyvinyl chloride, is marked #3 and is particularly poisonous -- and one container can contaminate a whole batch of otherwise reusable plastic.)  These are mostly shipped overseas and burned for fuel, releasing toxins into the air... or just landfilled.  
 
-- Plastic bottles are rarely in fact RE-cycled, but DOWN-cycled -- that is, they go into making other products that end up in landfills (plastic lumber, trash containers, etc). 
 
-- Most municipalities that collect all numbers throw away most of them.  (Perhaps this is in the hope that more people will recycle if it's easier?)  There's a bit of a market for #6s (in addition to the #1s and #2s).
 
-- The chasing arrows do not mean that the item is recyclable.  I've read that there is no government regulation around the labeling for recyclability.  
 
-- The environmental cost of *making* plastic containers is pretty darn huge in the first place.
 
 
Thanks for reading,
Dorrie



From: dwilliamsjhu02 at hotmail.com
To: chat at charlesvillage.info
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:29:37 +0000
Subject: Re: [Chat] Fwd:Re: Baltimore City	Frequently	Asked	Questions:	Plastic recycling








Yes, I was wrong, I just checked out BC's recycling website and it is 1 through 7.  Amazing.

http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/dpw/recycle.php

D'

> Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:02:30 -0800
> From: kshruska at mac.com
> To: chat at charlesvillage.info
> CC: chat at charlesvillage.info
> Subject: Re: [Chat] Fwd:Re: Baltimore City Frequently Asked Questions: Plastic recycling
> 
> I believe there is a comma missing from Ms. Ukwuoma's reply. I believe she meant to type "plastics, bottles and jars with numbers 1-7 on the bottom..."
> 
> Thanks!
> Kathleen
> 
> On Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at 09:27AM, "Stephen J Gewirtz" <gewirtz at bellatlantic.net> wrote:
> >Last year's recycling was only Numbers 1 and 2, and they said that they 
> >would take more plastic this year. Therefore, they clearly meant it 
> >when they said 1-7.
> >
> >Steve.
> >
> >D. Williams wrote:
> >> I think that is a misspelling, it is Numbers 1 and 7 not 1-7 if I am 
> >> not mistaken.
> >> D'
> >>
> >> > Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:36:52 -0500
> >> > From: LEF at press.jhu.edu
> >> > To: chat at charlesvillage.info
> >> > Subject: [Chat] Fwd:Re: Baltimore City Frequently Asked Questions: 
> >> Plastic recycling
> >> >
> >> > This doesn't make any sense. The info I read said any plastic labeled 1
> >> > through 7 is recyclable, so I am putting out everything--trays from
> >> > food, jars, lids, packing materials with a triangle and number, etc.,
> >> > NOT just bottles. I think Valentina Ukwuoma may be mistaken. Did I
> >> > mis-remember what it says on our Public Works calendar?
> >> >
> >> > Linda
> >> >
> >> > >>> gewirtz at bellatlantic.net 01/10/08 5:57 PM >>>
> >> > As you will see, I inquired whether the buckets that cat litter comes
> >> > in
> >> > can be recycled. Apparently, the answer is NO. Personally, I can see
> >> >
> >> > no reason that only bottles and jars can be recycled, but obviously my
> >> >
> >> > cat litter buckets will be added to what goes into the landfills.
> >> >
> >> > Steve.
> >> >
> >> > Ukwuoma, Valentina I wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > Dear Mr. Gewirtz:
> >> > >
> >> > > If it has a narrow/long neck or screw top yes, include it with your
> >> > > recycling materials, but if it is the wide open type please discard.
> >> >
> >> > > Also, as a point of information, please note that we accept plastics
> >> >
> >> > > bottles and jars with numbers 1-7 on the bottom. For more
> >> > information,
> >> > > please visit our website at www.baltimorecity.gov.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Thank you for your participation and interest in Baltimore City's
> >> > > recycling program.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Valentina I. Ukwuoma
> >> > >
> >> > > Bureau Head
> >> > >
> >> > > Bureau Of Solid Waste
> >> > >
> >> > > Department of Public Works
> >> > >
> >> > > 1000 Abel Wolman Mun. Building
> >> > >
> >> > > 200 N. Holliday Street
> >> > >
> >> > > Baltimore, Maryland 21202
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > -----Original Message-----
> >> > > From: Webmaster, COB
> >> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 5:02 PM
> >> > > To: Ukwuoma, Valentina I
> >> > > Subject: FW: Baltimore City Frequestly Asked Questions
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > A constituent has submitted a requested for information or complaint
> >> >
> >> > > from the Baltimore City website. The request is the forwarded message
> >> >
> >> > > below.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > You have received this email because the webmaster has found that
> >> > your
> >> > > agency is the closest contact found in our records to address this
> >> > issue.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > If you are not capable of handling this issue, please forward to the
> >> >
> >> > > appropriate party. A follow up directly to the constituent is
> >> > > appreciated otherwise. All correspondence and forwards related to
> >> > this
> >> > > issue should Cc: webmaster at baltimorecity.gov. Thank you for your
> >> > > assistance.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Michael A. Karr
> >> > >
> >> > > Web Master
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Baltimore City Mayor's Office
> >> > >
> >> > > 100 N. Holliday St. Room #339
> >> > >
> >> > > Baltimore, MD. 21202
> >> > >
> >> > > Office: 410-361-9126
> >> > >
> >> > > Moble: 410-977-5312
> >> > >
> >> > > Email: mike.karr at baltimorecity.gov
> >> > >
> >> > > Web: http://www.baltimorecity.gov
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > **** IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL: For ALL website update requests,
> >> > > please email to site.updates at baltimorecity.gov or your update will
> >> > NOT
> >> > > be posted. Thank you for your cooperation. ****
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > -----Original Message-----
> >> > >
> >> > > From: Stephen Gewirtz [mailto:gewirtz at bellatlantic.net]
> >> > >
> >> > > Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 5:03 PM
> >> > >
> >> > > To: Webmaster, COB
> >> > >
> >> > > Subject: Baltimore City Frequestly Asked Questions
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > User: Stephen Gewirtz, mailto:gewirtz at bellatlantic.net
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Categories: Recycling
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > I get Scoop Away cat litter in a plastic bucket that has a "5" on
> >> > it.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > The bucket has a metal handle. Can the bucket be recycled, and do I
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > need to remove the handle? Can the handle be recycled? And since
> >> > the
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > lid is a sizable piece of "5" plastic, can it be recycled?
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Chat mailing list
> >> > Chat at charlesvillage.info
> >> > http://charlesvillage.info/mailman/listinfo/chat_charlesvillage.info
> >> > archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/chat@charlesvillage.info/
> >>
> >>
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