I recycle everything, but I always ask myself “Is this recyclable?”
Here’s a great chart that explains what the recycling number means on each package. (Note: We did not create this diagram, so please excuse any typos.)
Let’s briefly address each recycling number.
1. Polyethylene Terephthalate: The most common single-use plastic used today. This is the low-hanging fruit if you need a strategy to reduce your plastic usage. Avoid buying plastic water bottles and simply use a refillable water bottle. For everything else in this category, toss it into your recycling bin.
2. High-Density Polyethylene: Recycle everything with the category 2. But, look for package alternatives for these products. Companies like Dropps deliver planet-friendly detergent. The grocery bags mentioned in this category are those heavy-duty reusable bags.
3. Polyvinyl Chloride: PVC is also known as vinyl. This is truly durable material but it’s not recyclable. Definitely avoid buying any single-use product with the category 3.
