Plastics need market value to be recycled
Reprinted by permission by the Ann Arbor News, © 2003, originally published 7.21.03
Plastics are a source of frustration for everyone in the user-end of the recycling industry because of the confusing message sent by the numbers and recycling arrows on the bottom of every plastic container.

Currently in Washtenaw County, none of the drop-off stations or curbside programs will accept any plastic products other than No. 1 and No. 2 plastic bottles, which include water, soda, and other beverage bottles, and gallon milk and orange juice jugs. Some other No. 1 and No. 2 bottles are also accepted, such as bottles for laundry detergent and cleaners. In general, any plastic container with a screw-top is acceptable Polystyrene (No. 6), commonly referred to as Styrofoam, is also accepted in some areas.

Several common plastic containers, including deli sandwich clamshells, yogurt and butter tubs, strawberry produce containers and plastic bags, are not accepted in Washtenaw County, much to the dismay of county residents and recycling professionals alike.

An item can be accepted for recycling only if it has market value. If no one can make or sell a product out of the recyclables that are available from the consumer, then local recycling facilities can't accept them. If they did accept it, they would have to store it indefinitely or dispose of it, increasing the costs of an already struggling industry. Currently, there are no strong markets available for plastics in our area other than No. 1 and No. 2 bottles and No. 6 polystyrene.

No. 1 and No. 2 plastic bottles are different from other plastics such as tubs or No. 3-No. 7 plastics because of the types of resin used and the manufacturing process. Differences in the manufacturing process create essentially different materials. The different plastics, even though they are made of the same resin, cannot be melted down together to be molded or chipped into new recycled-content materials.

Please keep recycling costs down and do not put any plastics other than No. 1 and No. 2 bottles in recycling bins in Washtenaw County. Discard or reuse unacceptable plastics such as butter tubs or plastic bags and, when possible, avoid purchasing them in favor of reusable or recyclable packaging. And as always, rinse your plastic bottles and remove the caps before recycling them.