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FAQ | Seattle, Washington Chris Jordan, as an American consumer I am in no position to finger wag… Send us a handmade 4 x 6 postcard reflecting your environmental concerns, thoughts on positive change, and ways to heal the world. January February March April May June July August September October November December Earth Clock Food Clock reuseablesolutions.org live |
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| Plastics Defined |
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| Plastic is made from petroleum-based polymers. When recycled, these polymer-resins, having different properties, melt at different temperatures. To keep the recycled polymers as pure as possible, the American Society of Plastics developed an identification system of codes to label plastics for recycling. Following is a brief description of the seven codes. Plastic No. 1 (PET, PETE) Polyethylene Terepthalate, is clear and tough and is resistance to heat. It is commonly used for water, soft drink, mouthwash, catsup, and salad dressing bottles, peanut butter, pickle, and jam jars, prepared food trays and film that is used to cook frozen foods. Recycled PET is in great demand for spinning fiber for carpet yarns, producing fiberfill, and geo-textiles under the nickname of polyester. Plastic No. 2 (HDPE) High Density Polyethylene, has stiffness, strength, and is easy to form. It is commonly used for milk, shampoo, dish and laundry detergent bottles, yogurt and butter tubs; cereal box liners, and grocery, trash, and retail bags. Recycled HDPE is used in things like, buckets, crates, fencing, floor tiles, flowerpots, garden edging, picnic tables, pipe, and plastic lumber. Plastic No. 3 (PVC) Polyvinyl Chloride, is versatile, flexible, tough, and has stable electrical properties. It is commonly used for medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, plastic pipes, fittings, decking, paneling, gutters, siding, floor tiles, window frames, and synthetic leather products. Recycled PVC is used in traffic cones and garden hoses to name a few. There are new findings that PVC emits unhealthy toxins. You can watch this entertaining video to learn more: http://www.besafenet.com/pvc/samsuds/index.htm Plastic No. 4 (LDPE) Low Density Polyethylene, is used predominately in film applications due to its strength, toughness, flexibility, relative transparency, and moisture resistance. LDPE is commonly used in dry cleaning bags; produce bags, trashcan liners, bread and frozen food bags, food storage containers, and squeezable bottles. Recycled LDPE is used in things like shipping envelopes, garbage can liners, floor tile, and furniture. ![]() Plastic No. 5 (PP) Polypropylene, has strength, toughness, resistance to heat, chemicals, grease and oil, and has a high melting point making it good for hot-fill liquids. PP is found in medicine bottles, aerosol caps, drinking straws and large molded automotive parts. When recycled it is found in things like automobile battery cases, signal lights, ice scrapers, oil funnels, and rakes. Plastic No. 6 (PS) Polystyrene, is an easily formed plastic that can be rigid or foamed. PS is found in CD jackets, trays, egg cartons, packaging peanuts, and plastic tableware. When recycled it is used in things like light switch plates and thermal insulation. Plastic No. 7 other plastic. This code indicates that the package in question is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or is made with mixed resins listed above. Plastic No.7 is found in three and five gallon reusable water bottles, some citrus juice bottles, and certain kinds of food containers like Tupperware. |
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