Recycle Some Plastics

    Plastics constitute a small but rapidly growing percentage of trash.  North Americans throw away
    about sixty million plastic bottles every day, as well as thousands of tons of plastic in other forms
    – garbage bags, food wrappers, and so on.  Plastics don’t decompose in landfills.  If they are
    incinerated, they release chemicals into the air that pose a threat to human health and the
    environment.  Plastic six-pack holders, plastic bags, and other plastic litter blown into the water
    from landfills are deadly.  Each year well over a million birds and fish die from starvation or
    choking when they ingest or get tangled in such debris.

    Because there are many different kinds of plastic, recycling is a problem.  Not all plastics can be
    melted down and recast.  Some containers, like squeezable catsup and jelly bottles, are made
    form more than one kind of plastic, which makes recycling almost impossible.  Nevertheless,
    analysts estimate that about half of the plastics we commonly use can be recycled.  Two types
    with which you are probably familiar are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density
    poltethylene (HDPE).  Recycle both, if you can.

    PET is used for soft drink bottles, peanut butter and mustard jars, and microwavable or boilable
    food pouches.  These are recyclable.  Although recycled PET is not used to make new soda
    bottles, because of the fear of contamination, it can be used as fiber for carpets and filler for
    sleeping bags, as well as in scouring pads and a variety of other products.

    HDPE is used for milk jugs, detergent and bleach bottles, butter tubs, trash bags, and other
    items.  It can be recycled into items such as trash cans, flowerpots, toys, and lumber for park
    benches and boat piers.

    At the present time, most communities lack the facilities to recycle other types of plastic.  
    However, the plastics industry is experimenting with various processes to make recycling
    possible, and within a few years recycling programs may be expanded to include them.
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