WHY COLLECT ALL PLASTIC BOTTLES?

The main goal of any recycling program is to maximize public participation, increase amounts of post-consumer materials recycled and minimize contamination. Collecting ‘all plastic bottles’ is an excellent way to achieve higher recovery rates for plastic bottles, especially PET and HDPE, and reduce unwanted contaminants in your program at the same time.



An ‘all plastic bottle’ collection program makes it easier for consumers to recycle their plastic bottles. Consumers want to recycle their plastics but the resin identification code can be confusing. In some cases the code is difficult to locate on a bottle. In addition, the resin code is on wide mouth containers and some films, prompting consumers to ask why these aren’t recycled in their curbside or drop-off program. While a few municipal programs do collect containers and plastic grocery bags along with other recyclables, many programs do not, or they collect these materials separately, as in the case of grocery bag collection. Educating the public to collect and recycle all plastic bottles specifically, makes it easier for consumers, which in turn can increase participation and reduce contamination from unwanted plastics.

By asking for all plastic bottles, a program can recover higher volumes of PET and HDPE. Since over 90 percent of all plastic bottles produced are PET and HDPE, it is reasonable to assume that the more bottles you collect overall, the larger the percentage collected will be PET and HDPE. There are many new highly recyclable plastic bottles that are used in the home and on the go. Many of these bottles can be collected from the bath, from under the sink, from the pantry, your family room, or the car. If your program asks for ‘all plastic bottles’ you can help to recover those bottles that might otherwise be thrown away.

Why exclude the following bottles from recycling?



Antifreeze containers – is ethylene glycol, a solvent. Residues from antifreeze bottles, if in contact with PET bottles, could affect the PET resin (depolymerize PET when heated) and therefore contaminate the recyclable PET bottle stream. As well, any residues in contact with workers is to be avoided. Therefore these bottles should not go into a recycling stream.



Herbicides/pesticide containers – there is the potential for these chemicals to migrate into the container. If collected for recycling and further extruded (where the containers are heated) there is the possibility that the herbicide or heat modified herbicide residues would be emitted into the work place, creating a concern for worker safety. Therefore, these containers should not be collected for recycling. It is pointed out that where there are recycling programs for bulk agricultural containers (as in Canada) this is not an issue because the containers are triple rinsed and extruded at much lower temperatures or disposed of through cement kilns.



Solvent containers – residues in containers may create a fire hazard. Residues may also migrate into the container, creating similar affect as outlined above. As well, these residues are not water soluable. They will float to the surface during the washing phase of reprocessing and would evaporate into the work place, creating a concern for worker safety. These containers should not be collected for recycling.



Oil containers – any residues from these containers will contaminate other materials collected for recycling. As well, normal reprocessing operation wash systems do not have waste oil/water separation systems. These containers should not be collected in curbside recycling programs.



OK To Include Windshield Wiper Bottles



Residues are dilute solutions of either methanol and water or isopropanol and water. Both chemicals are totally soluble, nonflammable at the levels of dilutions sold and do not migrate into plastics. They have little effect on the plastics.