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What plastic can I recycle?
Not all plastic is the same. Think of plastic as fruit. Not all fruit is the same. An orange is not an apple. Similarly, not all plastic is the same. Plastic #1 is not plastic #5 (the recipes are different). Even within the same plastic group there are differences. Consider apples. A red apple is not a green apple. Similarly, a plastic #1 narrow-neck soft-drink or water bottle is not the same as a #1 wide-mouth plant pot. In Athens-Clarke County, we only accept narrow-neck plastic #1 and plastic #2 for recycling (only containers that have a neck with a screw-top lid). This means we don’t recycle plastic bags (check with your local grocer about plastic bag recycling).
Know the code: Look for the following codes (recycling symbol with the number 1-7 in the middle of the symbol) on plastic containers. These indicate the type of plastic. Remember, only #1 plastic and #2 plastic can be recycled in ACC.
 Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Common Uses: 2-liter soft drink bottles, water and soft drink bottles, cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars
 Plastic #2: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Common Uses: Detergent bottles and milk jugs
For more information about plastics, visit the American Plastics Council.
• This information can be found in the Alameda County, California, Recycling Guide, 2003-2004.
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