RECYCLE #1 AND #2 PLASTIC CONTAINERS

Plastic is the fastest growing category of materials collected for recycling. Americans go through 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, or 13 billion plastic bottles per year. Of these, only about 15% - 20% are recycled. Plastics are also very deceptive. Each different type of plastic is made up of different chemical components. The sorting of different types of plastic is essential to producing high quality recycled products.

Cumberland County currently accepts the two most widely used plastic containers, PETE #1 and HDPE #2. These numbers are part of a voluntary standardized coding system implemented by plastic manufacturers. The numbers are included on containers used for soft drinks, milk, juice, water, salad dressing, cooking oils, cough syrup, cleaning products, and much more. Check the bottom of the container and you will see the recycling symbol with a number in the center. Containers marked with a #1 or #2 should be sorted, prepared for recycling, and placed in your red recycling bucket. Those marked with any other number should be discarded in the trash. The plastic containers that you recycle are used for a variety of products including new containers, carpet, T-shirts, sweaters, car parts, and plastic lumber.

When preparing your plastic containers for recycling, follow these simple rules:

· Empty and rinse your plastic containers. Clean materials are safer, easier for recyclers to handle, and are of better quality for recycling.

· Remove caps and lids from your containers and dispose of them in your trash.

· Do not crush plastics.

· Do not recycle plastic wrap or packaging, plastic tubs, motor oil or antifreeze containers, even if they have the correct recycling symbol. Dispose of these items in your regular trash.

For more information about recycling programs in Cumberland County, contact the Cumberland County Improvement Authority at 825-3700.