Plastic #1

Polyethylene (PET)

Baled PET

Plastic #2

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Baled HDPE Natural

Baled HDPE Colored

What's accepted:

Plastic bottles with necks labeled #1 and #2

What's not accepted

Collection:

Plastic #1 and #2 is collected at drop off centers and curbside collection programs and brought to the MRF at BuRRT.

Processing:

PET and HDPE bottles are unloaded onto the tipping floor and then sent through the MRF to be separated. When they pass through the container/paper screen the PET and HDPE bottles fall to a separate storage area. Any bottles that do not make it to this separate storage are removed by hand.

Each type of plastic, PET (plastic #1) HDPE colored (plastic #2 such as laundry detergent bottles), and HDPE natural (Plastic #2 such as milk jugs) is baled separately because they are remanufactured into different products.

Once baled each bale of PET and HDPE weighs approximately 700 pounds

Remanufacturing:

Once PET bales enter the plastic remanufacturing mill they are cut into small bead sized pellets. These pellets are then melted down and either made back into a new bottle or made into fibers to make carpet or clothing.

HDPE bottles enter the remanufacturing mill and are similarly shredded into small pellets. These pellets re meted down and are made into a new milk jug or laundry detergent bottle, plastic lumber, or other plastic products such as toys.

Reconsumption:

Once the plastic is remanufactured it is put back into the market place where consumers can purchase it.

Reduce:

A great way to reduce your consumption of plastic is to avoid drinking water from single serve water bottles and buy a reusable one instead. You will save money and the environment. There are many great bottles on the market from plastic to aluminum, to steel.

Recycling Tidbits

It takes 25 two liter soda bottles to make one sweater.