Plastic is virtually everywhere and serves numerous purposes, from food and cosmetics packaging to components for cars, houses, and electronic devices. Plastics encompass various types of synthetic and semisynthetic polymers, each with different properties. The durability of these materials allows for a range of applications, but they take a long time to break down. A plastic bottle, for instance, requires around 450 years to decompose. Manufacturers organize modern plastics into seven categories based on the resin used in production and ordered according to recyclability.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is one of the most frequently-produced plastics, particularly for food packaging and fabrics. Given the lightweight and durability, manufacturers use it to produce beverage bottles, food jars, tote bags, furniture, polyester ropes, and clothing. PET ranks among the most recyclable of all plastics, especially in the case of transparent items.
Another common plastic is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the two main classifications of polyethylene. Chemical-resistant and stronger than PET, HDPE makes for durable building materials and food or cleaning products containers. HDPE products include milk and detergent bottles, toys, buckets, pipes, and recycling bins. The high recyclability and broad reuse potential make HDPE a very versatile type of plastic.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a type of plastic commonly employed for construction and building applications due to its rigidity and resistance to weathering and chemicals. Standard medical equipment is often in PVC, given the ease to disinfect and the impermeability to germs. Other PVC-based products include plumbing pipes, toys, credit cards, rain gutters, and window frames. Unlike PET, PVC is usually not recyclable. Studies indicate that PVC plastics can leach toxic levels of chemicals such as vinyl chloride, phthalates, lead, and cadmium when compromised, posing environmental and health risks.
A softer and more flexible plastic than HDPE is LDPE or low-density polyethylene. The consumer-product industry uses this plastic for garbage and grocery bags, six-pack rings, plastic wrap, and a liner inside paper-based beverage cartons. Although LDPE boasts some recyclability, most curbside recycling programs do not accept it. This type of plastic often ends up in oceans, threatening marine wildlife and all undersea ecosystems.
The best type of plastic for hot-food storage is polypropylene (PP) due to its flexibility and heat resistance. However, manufacturers also use it to produce plastic caps, prescription bottles, disposable diapers, and carpet fibers and textiles. Despite its recyclability due to recent advancements in technology, most PP products still end up in landfills. PP takes between 20 and 30 years to decompose, presenting threats to the environment.
One of the cheapest types of plastic is polystyrene (PS). Many foodservice providers use PS for food packaging, although it also has applications in the construction industry. People often refer to all PS items as Styrofoam, the trademarked name of a specific expanded polystyrene variation. Common objects made of PS include takeout-food containers, egg cartons, packaging peanuts, and insulation boards for construction. As the least recyclable of plastic resins, most PS products are eventually discarded and sent to landfills.
The last category comprises various other plastics and products that contain a mix of the basic six resins. Objects like eyeglasses, baby bottles, electronics, and headlight lenses fall into this group. Although usually not recyclable, there are programs equipped to repurpose some of these plastics into items such as plastic lumber.
