Plastic product packaging always seems to end up in the trash at my house, typically because it’s made from a non-recyclable plastic. That’s why I was happy to see that the bag from my portable DVD player’s remote control indicated it was made from Polyethylene Terephthalate, or plastic #1. That means it can be dropped right into a blue recycling bin with Mountain Dew bottles and beer cans. So the next time you’re unpacking a new electronic device, be sure to scan all the plastic bags for resin identification codes - they may be recyclable.

I really have been enjoying looking for these odd recyclables. I’ve begun to know what certain plastics sound like when thumped, and where plastic ID codes are placed. I’ve been picking up objects around the house and in stores, looking for that rare reclaimable object. That’s why I was shocked to see that this bag made from plastic #1 - why aren’t all bags made from this material? Sometimes I forget that things other than containers can be made from this stuff, and that’s what Surprising Recyclables is all about.

Previously on Surprising Recyclables:

• Watering Can
  
• Recycling Bin
  
• Paint Bucket
• Target Cart
  
• Milk Crate
• Little Tikes Wagon