Recycling - Help

[Flamesparrow]

They've started a new recycling system in our area.. most of it I am following but I am having a confusion over bottle lids...

Plastic bottles = yes
Bottle lids = no

Plastics numbered 1-3 = yes
4-6 = no

So I took off a bottle lid, and happened to notice that it said it was number 2... Recycle, or not?!!?

Yes because it counts as "plastics numbered 1-3". Ok, so it's shaped like a bottle lid but it's still a 1-3 plastic isnt it?

apparently there are some plastics that are easily recycled - that most bottles are made of, and others that are not easy to recycle.

i never realised it was stamped on the plastic though !

Tis all getting so bloody confusing - my mum is telling me that the bit of plastic left round the top of the bottle when the lid is off, needs cutting off too... how many people do that? I'm all for recycling, but you seem to need a degree in it to know exactly what to do

I feel for her with her foster placements - they keep showing her each bit of rubbish and asking which bin it goes in

my bottle lid says 47 and 31 - so that is no help at all .

I was just googling it -

1 PET

Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.

2 HDPE

High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.

3 PVC
Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.

4 LDPE

Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.

5 PP
Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.

6 PS

Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.

7 OTHER
Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.

having said that in South Norfolk - we are only allowed to put in bottles - no food trays or clingfilm. Or bottle lids !

Food trays count as contaminated... though why bottles AREN'T I have no idea!