Tee Cee's Tip for Monday, April 25, 2022

Apr. 24—Dear Tee-Cee,

I understand that plastic cups, like for cold coffees, are not recyclable. Just to clarify, I have bought fresh fruit in a plastic container that I feel is like the plastic used in these cups. All of this kind of plastic has a recycling symbol on them, but none of that kind of plastic is recyclable? It's just hard to keep track of the differences.

Karen

Dear Karen,

Yes — plastics are very confusing, we absolutely agree! You are right, those cups have the same number (usually a No. 1 PETE) as your berry clamshell containers, many deli tubs, plastic bottles, etc.— all of which are recyclable.

Unfortunately, the market that buys these materials doesn't buy all No. 1 PETE — that would make so much sense, wouldn't it?

But because of different additives and chemicals added to each kind of plastic product out there, even if they start as the same resin type (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, etc.), those additives potentially make some No. 1 plastics (for example) recyclable, and other No. 1 plastics nonrecyclable.

Even though there is a recycling symbol on almost every plastic product, the number inside the recycling symbol (1-7) only indicates the plastic resin type, not whether it is actually recyclable.

Our markets for recycled plastics buy different resins, but only of certain shapes, including bottles, tubs, jugs, jars and clamshells (as long as it's not styrofoam, which will also have a recycling symbol on it with a No. 6, but is not accepted for recycling).

The recycling market that buys various forms of No. 1 PETE does not like No. 1 PETE cups, as they do not have the same chemical format as the real material they want to buy — plastic bottles. If the market won't buy them and make them into something new, we can't accept them for recycling.

The recycling industry has put pressure on the plastics industry for decades to stop using the recycling symbol on all their products, misleading the public into believing that means they're all recyclable. When pressed, the plastic industry's response is that those codes aren't there for the consumer's use, just as an internal code for industry use.

But of course, consumers would understandably think that they are to look for the recycling symbol to know if an item is recyclable. Instead, consumers should follow local guidelines to know whether a product is recyclable, given that the chasing arrows recycling symbol is not regulated and could be on virtually any product, regardless of recyclability.

So in Boulder County, please recycle your plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, jars and clamshells (like those used for berries) and the rigid No. 2 or No. 5 plastic cups only, such as souvenir cups you might get at an event.

Following this specific list of materials accepted is definitely more complicated than simply looking for a recycling symbol, but unless and until the plastic industry stops using confusing recycling symbols on all of their products, starts standardizing their use of resins and additives, and starts buying their products back for remanufacturing the way other industries like aluminum, steel, paper and glass do, we recyclers and consumers are stuck with these complicated details.

Colorado's Legislature is currently considering a state bill that will revamp recycling in the state and simplify the complicated world of recycling statewide. House Bill 22-1355, Producer Responsibility for Recycling, will do several things to improve recycling, including creating a statewide list of covered materials, or a "minimum recyclable list."

Instead of having different recycling guidelines that change from community to community depending on the local recycling infrastructure, House Bill 22-1355 will establish a list of materials that are recyclable in every community across Colorado.

The bill will also incentivize companies to use more sustainable and recyclable packaging. These are just some aspects of this transformative bill that will turn Colorado into a recycling leader. To learn more about the benefits of this bill, including free recycling for all Coloradans, visit recyclingforallcoloradans.org.

You can support this bill by signing up for Eco-Cycle's action alerts at bit.ly/eco-cycle-pr-alerts. Eco-Cycle will email you with updates as House Bill 22-1135 progresses through the state Legislature and let you know when to reach out to your legislators.

Until the plastics industry is required to change its irresponsible labeling practices, Eco-Cycle is happy to answer any recycling or Zero Waste related questions at recycle@ecocycle.org or 303-444-6634.

Tee Cee

Have Zero Waste questions? Want to become a volunteer Eco-Leader? Let us know at Rosie@ecocycle.org.