In our modern world, plastic is everywhere—packaging, containers, toys, and more. With its convenience comes a significant environmental challenge. Recycling, which began as a hopeful solution in North America in the 1970s, has often fallen short of expectations. Despite the efforts of many, including a dedicated community of Earthubbers striving to reduce plastic use, we are still faced with the daunting task of addressing the plastic waste crisis. It’s clear that while we’ve made strides, we need to collectively confront the mess we’ve created.
Navigating the complexities of plastics has become increasingly confusing over time. There are plastics with recycling numbers, some without any indication, and others featuring that familiar triangle but missing a number. To complicate matters, municipalities often vary in what they accept for recycling. As a former post-secondary student, I've witnessed numerous moves—whether across the province, nationally, or internationally. Based on my observations, it’s unlikely that everyone will deeply research recycling rules in each new city they live in, especially when the social norm tends to simplify things to “plastics in one bin, paper in another.” Most people gradually learn the local rules over time, but this approach can lead to significant inconsistencies and therefore, disrupting the beloved recycling system.
Deciphering the Digits
The standard 1-7 numbers you come across on your plastics were assigned back in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) and were known as the Resin Identification Codes. Fast forward to many years later, things were changed when SPI did a rebranding (now known as Plastic Industry Association or PLASTICS) and the number codes were passed over to ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials).
The purpose of the numbers is to identify the types of plastic used in a product, which in turn informs how it should be recycled. While we could dive into the details of the chemistry behind these numbers, for now, let's focus on the basics:
#1 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) – Commonly used for bottles, containers, and polyester fibers. While this material is highly recyclable and Earthubbers advocate for reuse, it’s strongly advised against reusing these types of plastics. They have the potential to release di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA). I hate to admit that in my late teens and early 20s, I was guilty of reusing a plastic water bottle repeatedly because I was too cheap to invest in a nice reusable—one of those bad decisions I try to suppress from my memory.
#2 High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) – Found in milk jugs, detergent bottles, and some plastic bags. HDPE is also widely recyclable and considered one of the safer types of plastic. This is reassuring, especially since our Earthub plastic bottle cap project primarily works with this material!
#3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – Used in plumbing pipes, food wraps, vinyl siding, and some toys. Recycling options for PVC are limited and it can release harmful chemicals when burned.
#4 Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) – Commonly used for grocery bags, bread bags, and some wraps, LDPE is less frequently recycled. However, it is one of the safer plastics that can be reused.
#5 Polypropylene (PP) – Common in yogurt containers, straws, and prescription pill bottles, PP is accepted by most recycling programs and is also safe for reuse.
#6 Polystyrene (PS) – Found in disposable coffee cups, plastic food boxes, and packaging materials. The sad part is that all of these examples involve food and beverages we ingest yet, this material is very likely to leach into our food products. Recycling options are limited, as PS is difficult to process due to its lightweight nature. While it’s best to avoid plastics whenever possible, #6 is one type you should definitely steer clear of altogether.
#7 Other (Various Resins) – This category includes a mix of plastics, such as acrylic and nylon, which makes recycling nearly impossible. Think of it this way: if you were baking a cake and mixed all the dry ingredients with the wet ones, how would you separate them again to get the flour back to its original form?
Recycling Revealed
We all know why recycling often gets a bad reputation. The complexities of deciphering what belongs in the recycling bin, combined with the contamination we sometimes see from our neighbours, can drive many people to give up. The waste hierarchy emphasizes that refusing, reducing, and reusing should always come first, but we often face the everyday challenge of convenience.
Another factor to consider is what we mentioned earlier: the simplicity of the “plastics in one bin, paper in another” approach, coupled with an “out of sight, out of mind” mindset. However, this can further contaminate the recycling stream, increasing costs for equipment and labour. As we delve deeper into the realities of recycling, it’s time for me to make a confession—a mistake I’ve been making that you might be making too...
In the present day, as someone who doesn't recycle much (because I typically focus on the other "R's" in the waste hierarchy), my recent research led me to something completely unexpected. It’s worth mentioning that I’ve lived in Ottawa for 14 years and was a serial recycler until 2018. I would meticulously take apart specific packaging to ensure the plastics were separated from paper materials. Here's an example of the type of packaging I am referring to:
My thorough observations of Earthub collections over the past six months revealed that many plastics do NOT have a number identifying the material category, and some don’t even have a recycling triangle. Referring to the material types shown in the photo above, perhaps many of you already realized this years ago, some might be as shocked as I was.
The City of Ottawa does not accept plastics without a recycling number:
This is generally obvious when we think of plastic items like toys, dishes, and laundry baskets, but you might be surprised by how many plastics we encounter that do not have a number (we’ll cover this in a future blog post!). Let me show you:
Looking at these plastics, it's safe to say that the average person who recycles would likely place them in the blue bin. However, this requires an extra step for consumers, and unfortunately, many (myself included apparently) do not take the time to review their options. To complicate matters further, there’s the ongoing question of cleaning recyclables. As we’ve mentioned, recycling rules can vary widely among municipalities, depending on the type of equipment used.
The City of Ottawa does not have a general statement on its website indicating that all plastics must be clean. However, under the 'Metal' section, they note that aluminum containers or foil can be food-soiled.
Searching further in the Waste Explorer, I wanted to check on plastic peanut butter jars, as this is a common question I receive. The information indicates that rinsing containers will "ensure they are ready for recycling," implying that if they're too dirty, they may either not be recycled or require cleaning? There's so much to decipher!
You’ll also notice that only certain #6 plastics are accepted—expanded #6 plastics are not allowed in our curbside recycling. Got it? However, if you travel frequently between Ottawa and Kingston, as I do or as some of my friends from back home do, you’ll see that expanded #6 plastics, like styrofoam, are accepted in Kingston’s blue bins...it can’t be colored though or larger than 90 cm x 60 cm x 20 cm!! Ugh...
I mentioned this in a previous blog post, but I had a friend from Kingston who moved to Ottawa and absolutely refused to believe that styrofoam couldn’t be placed in the Ottawa bins (and would continue to do so until I came over to remove it). What can we say? We’re creatures of habit.
Earthub Bin Collections
As if things weren't already complicated, I might have just added to the confusion. But let me help you out—what if I told you that Earthub could take your hard-to-recycle items? If you're in Ottawa, Earthub will be launching a trial collection service, from November to January, that accepts materials you wouldn’t expect! To get an exclusive invite (the week of November 4th only), you’ll need to subscribe to our newsletter on our website.
As the world continues to grapple with plastic pollution, innovations in recycling technologies and materials are on the rise. However, prioritizing the higher 'R's' in the waste hierarchy remains crucial on our journey toward a more sustainable future. Follow us to learn more!
Earthub offers circular economy consulting and services for your business, along with collection pick-ups. Book your free assessment now on our website!
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