We’ve started planting some new flowers in our gardens, so I’ve noticed a buildup of empty plastic plant containers in the garage. Because these containers are typically make from non-recyclable plastics (#4, #5, or #6), most folks just toss them into the trash. But this year we can help you make a change!
Last June, I […]

Most recycling programs only accept plastics #1 and #2, so being able to quickly identify them can be a time saver when sorting your recycling. In the future, we should be able to recycle plastics #3 through #7 — but for now these outcasts must be banished to the landfill (that’s too bad, because a […]

Like most areas in the country, our local recyclers only accept plastics #1 and #2. My family collects a lot of these plastics as bottles, milk jugs, Starbucks cups, and so on. But what about all those other plastic items in our lives?
If something is labeled as a plastic #1 or #2, it […]

You have to look hard to actually find something labeled as a plastic #7. When it comes to resin identification codes, #7 is reserved for materials made from mixed plastics - or “other.” That’s why it is so rare to see a #7 in the wild - plastics of these types cannot be recycled, […]

Polystyrene (PS), otherwise known as plastic #6, was accidentally discovered by a Berlin pharmacist in 1839. While polystyrene is widely used today, it is rarely found in plastic bottles - it contains benzene which is generally considered a carcinogenic substance.
What is it made of?
Polystyrene is a thermoplastic polymer, and its molecular formula is (-CHC6H5-CH2-)n. It’s […]

The more I read about plastic grocery bags, the more I believe that plastic grocery bags should be banned. Their impact on this planet is destructive and everlasting. Plastic grocery bags are littered everywhere on Earth, from the side of Long Point Road to Antarctica.
Maybe you’ve heard about the folks in China who […]

As a byproduct of my greenification, I’ve become a bit of a recycling fanatic. I bet some of you are as well. So I thought it might be interesting to hear from a professional recycling fanatic, Elizabeth Fisher from Fisher Recycling.
Chris and Elizabeth Fisher have been at the helm of Fisher Recycling since it […]

I thought I would end the Surprising Recyclables era (for now) by returning to where it all began - Little Tikes. We have a couple of their toys, and the first one I checked yielded paydirt. Right there on the gray backboard I saw the resin identification code for plastic #2, which means the toy […]

Polypropylene (PP), otherwise known as plastic #5, was created in 1957 as a cheap alternative to polyethylene. In 1999, polypropylene accounted for only 2% of all plastic bottles in the United States. Bottles aside, a lot of our food containers are made from plastic #5, including those at Whole Foods. In fact, this is […]

When I was breaking down an empty detergent box the other day, I stopped to look at the scoop before throwing it out. It was labeled as a #1 plastic, which means it’s recyclable here in the Lowcountry. In fact, it’s RPET, which is already recycled polyethylene terephthalate. Using RPET products supports the market […]

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), otherwise known as plastic #4, was created in 1933 by Imperial Chemical Industries. In 1999, LDPE accounted for only 1% of all plastic bottles in the United States. While this isn’t a lot, plastic #4 does make appearances in our lives…
What is it made of?
LDPE is a thermoplastic made from […]

I was wandering around Lowe’s the other day with my two boys, and we were doing more playing than shopping. After riding the lawn mowers, discussing the merits of various fountains, and taking a trip through Holiday Decoration Valley, we literally bumped into the “Caution: Wet Floor” sign.
This ubiquitous yellow pyramid can be […]

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 […]

The other day I was wandering around the yard with my plastic watering can instead of my hose. I’ve been doing this to conserve water, where as before I would have just been spraying down everything as if I was trying to save the Towering Inferno. When I got back to the garage, […]

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the standard blue recycling bins are recyclable. Of course they are - they’re made from recycled plastic #2 (High Density Polyethylene). Look closely, and you’ll see the resin identification code, which means you can take yours to any Charleston County Recycling drop site if it wears out. […]

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or V), also known as plastic #3, is pretty rare when it comes to household plastics. Only 2% of all plastic containers are PVC, despite being accidentally discovered way back in the 1800s.
What is it made of?
PVC is Polyvinyl Chloride - Its molecular formula is (-CH2-CHCl-)n. It’s a tough and strong […]

The ubiquitous 5 gallon white paint bucket…you know you have 1 or 2 in the garage, either crusty with interior latex paint or full of last summer’s pruned mums. I’ve used these buckets for years as gardening tools, yet never thought to look for a resin identification code. Sure enough, it’s a #2 […]

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), also known as plastic #2, is the second most used bottle plastic behind PET (plastic #1.) 95% of all plastic bottles sold in the U.S. are either HDPE or PET…that’s a lot of bottles. Despite this increase in use, HDPE contributes less than 1% of the solid waste in landfills. […]

I love surprises. Some day I hope to be surprised to find I’m not the only one with reusable bags in a Target store. Today, I was surprised to see a #2 resin identification code on the handle of my bright red cart. I looked around, and they were everywhere. All […]

I can’t believe it’s been almost four months since I impetuously decided to give up bottled water. I pledged to go the entire Charleston summer without a single bottle touching my lips, and I have to say it was easier than I thought. It made me realize what we were missing before bottled-water […]