How to recycle plastic waste correctly
Recycling plastic cuts the volume of mixed waste down substantially. Just remember that not all plastic waste belongs to the plastic collection container. We put together tips for plastic recyclers: how to sort items such as plastic bottles, polystyrene foam and plastic toys?
The rule of thumb for recycling plastic is as follows: if the plastic waste is packaging, it belongs to the plastic collection container. You must also rinse or wipe the packaging to make it reasonably clean so that it can be used in materials recovery.
What should you put in the plastic collection container?
- Plastic bags
- Empty plastic food packaging, such as yoghurt tubs, butter and fruit packaging, plastic bottles and pre-prepared food packages
- Empty plastic cleaning product packaging, such as shampoo bottles and canisters
- Polystyrene foam that comes with packaging
What does not belong in the plastic collection container? Put these in mixed waste:
- Plastic items such as dishwashing brushes, toothbrushes and plastic toys
- Packaging containing PVC plastic (marked with 3 or 03)
- Bottles containing residues of hazardous substances, such as motor oil bottles
Clean off most residues from plastic packagings. You do not need to wash them up.
If you are not sure whether something belongs to plastic waste, put it in mixed waste. This way the waste sorted into plastic waste can be utilised in the best possible way.
Why should you recycle plastics?
Recycling plastic is the only way to recover plastic for further use and reduce the need to use new raw material. Plastic is a commonly used material, so it is important to recover it and stop plastic from ending up in nature.
Recycling plastic is good for nature as well as your wallet.
The correct sorting of plastic packaging helps to cut the volume of mixed waste down substantially, which means the mixed waste containers can be emptied less often. This saves nature as well as your money, as collecting mixed waste is more expensive than collecting plastic, and the maintenance costs of your home building are reflected in rents and charges for common expenses.
What is sorted plastic used for?
Recyclable plastic is processed into plastic granules used as raw material for products such as plastic bags, buckets as well as dishwashing and toilet brushes.
It is not currently yet possible to recycle all plastic packagings into recycled plastic, but they are still recovered for energy production. For example, black plastic packaging and polystyrene foam do not for the time being end up as recycled plastic, but you can still sort them into the plastic collection container.
Sources: HSY ja Suomen Uusiomuovi