Plastic Bottle Recycling Information

According to Earth 911, each ton of recycled plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of space in landfills. In 2008 the United States recycled over 2.4 billion pounds of plastic bottles.

Usage

• From 1976 to 2006, the number of gallons of bottled water consumed by the average person rose from 1.6 to 28.3.

Types

• There are several types of plastic bottles. Each type is used in different applications and labeled with an abbreviation and number according to the type of resin used in the manufacturing.

PET 1

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) provides smooth surfaces, a barrier to oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide, and is shatter resistant. It is used for bottled beverages such as water, soft drinks, and beer, according to the American Chemistry Council. It is also used for items such as salad dressing, ketchup and mouthwash.

HDPE 2

• High density polyethylene (HDPE) is somewhat stiff, is chemical resistant, and is ideal for dated products such as milk and juice. In addition, it is used for shampoos, laundry detergents, and household cleaners.

Other 7

• The American Chemistry Council notes that other resins and combination resins are indicated by the number 7. This type of plastic is used for reusable water bottles in 3- and 5-gallon sizes, as well as some juice and ketchup bottles.