Have you been following California’s pair of nesting Bald Eagles that had three chicks hatch in 2025? If so, you watched as Jackie ended up with a fishing line dangling out of her beak after eating some fish, which left her unable to feed her chicks until she got it dislodged from her throat. It was harrowing to watch as regular followers knew the eagles had faced so much with snowstorms, eggs or chicks that failed to thrive, and constant raven attacks.
How did the fishing line get into her throat? She was eating a fish from the water below and is believed to have possibly swallowed a hook and the snapped line. Experts aren’t sure there was a hook, but say it is a “possibility.” It’s just one of millions of pieces of plastic that end up in the water each year. The Ocean Conservancy believes that there are around 11 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean currently.
With facilities for recycling plastic available around the world, how does the plastic get into the ocean? It blows out of recycling containers, recycling trucks, fishing boats, yachts, ships, etc. People litter and plastics end up in streams that lead to rivers, that lead to lakes, ponds, or oceans. Microplastics from decomposing plastics become airborne and end up in everything, even people. Recycling plastic is critical if we’re going to protect animals, aquatic life, and people from the harm plastics cause.
Understanding Plastic Types Using Resin Identification Codes
The process of recycling plastic properly begins by understanding what a Resin Identification Code (RIC) is and what it means. Every plastic item you have usually has a stamp on it that shows the recycling symbol and a number. Those are RICs, and they tell you the type of plastic. That’s key to determining how to recycle something.
There are seven RICs in all, and they are:
- #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate or PETE is one of the most common. It’s the plastic used to make soda and water bottles, cooking oil bottles, and clamshell containers. It’s one of the easiest to recycle.
- #2: High-Density Polyethylene or HDPE is a bit more rigid and is used in detergent and household cleaner bottles, milk jugs, and beauty products like shampoo and conditioner. It’s also one of the easiest plastics to recycle as long as you rinse them out.
- #3: Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC is used to make pipes used by plumbers, shower curtain liners, toys, and home siding. It’s harder to recycle because of that.
- #4: Low-Density Polyethylene or LDPE is the plastic used to make plastic shopping bags, the rings that hold a four-pack or six-pack of soda or beer cans, and some food storage containers.
- #5: Polypropylene or PP is most commonly used in ketchup and dressing bottles, tubs of yogurt, and bottle caps. This is the third easiest plastic to recycle.
- #6: Polystyrene or PS is the plastic used to make Styrofoam and products like egg cartons, meat trays, and packaging peanuts. It’s difficult to recycle this plastic.
- #7: Other forms of plastic get mixed to form this plastic labeled as “Other.” Because it’s a mix of plastics, it’s not commonly accepted for recycling.
Tips That Ensure You Are Recycling Plastic Properly
What is the best way to ensure your plastics recycling goes where it should and stays out of the landfill? We have a few tips.
- Check Your Hauler’s Rules
Before you go any further, look at what your local hauler accepts. This does vary from one facility to the next. For example, I live on the border of two counties. My curbside hauler picks up in my county, but drivers empty the recycling truck in the county where their garage is located.
In my county, most plastics #1 to 7 are accepted, but plastic bags, plastic toys, and Styrofoam are not accepted. Only plastic bottles, tubs, and clamshell packaging are allowed in curbside containers. There are no size restrictions or requirements that bottles that contain cleaners, oil, or pesticides be brought to a special facility.
In their county, only plastic bottles, clean clamshell containers, jugs, and tubs are accepted. Items must be larger than two inches or they’re not allowed. Bottles that contain cleaners, oil, or pesticides are not allowed, even if they’re clean and empty. You need to schedule an appointment with a different facility that’s about 20 miles from me and give them to the worker.
I have to check where the driver’s route takes them when it comes to the drop-off. It’s frustrating, and that’s one reason people struggle with recycling. Ask for a guide from your hauler if they don’t have one on their website.
- Clean Them
Food containers that have stuck on food end up in the trash. If you put something in recycling that still contains liquids or a lot of food, such as a past-date, half-empty salad dressing bottle, the dressing can leak and contaminate an entire load of recycling. The plastic, glass, metal, and paper in that truck must go to a landfill now. It’s a waste and ends up increasing costs as there’s the cost of filling a new truck to make the trip to the landfill.
- Triple-Check Recycling Numbers
Make sure you’ve checked the number of the plastic item to ensure it is recyclable in your curbside bin. If you’re not sure or cannot read the number, set it aside.
- Remember That You Can Still Recycle Plastics That Your Hauler Doesn’t Take
If you have plastic items that your hauler doesn’t take, you can still recycle them. You must drive to the right location to do so, however.
Plastic film like bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, cling wrap, and plastic grocery bags are recyclable if you leave them in plastic film recycling boxes found in the entrances to many retailers. Many of my area grocery stores have them in the bottle return area. Use Recycle Nation’s Recycle Search Tool to find your nearest recycling location.
- Upcycle Whatever You Can
Turn an old Tupperware container into a plant pot. Paint the outside, drill drainage holes in the bottom, cover the bottom with pebbles, and fill it with potting soil. You have an attractive planter for your deck or patio.
You have a lot of Styrofoam packaging or foam peanuts. Call your local UPS Store or an area business that ships items to customers and see if they take donations. Many accept them as it lowers their expenses.
Things You Can Do to Reduce Plastic Waste
What can you do to reduce the plastic waste you contribute to global pollution?
- Stop Purchasing Single-Use Snacks and Beverages
One of the best ways to avoid having too much plastic waste is by thinking before you buy. Grab-and-go snack foods and single-use beverages are two of the worst offenders. Instead of single-serving bags of trail mix, purchase a large tub of trail mix and put it in reusable containers that you can grab and go.
Instead of individual water bottles, purchase a refillable water bottle. If you don’t like the taste of city water at your office or school, look for a refillable water bottle that has a built-in filter that removes any displeasing tastes like chlorine.
If you need your favorite soda, iced tea, juice drink, etc., when you’re at work or school, purchase it in large containers and pour it into a reusable container. Buy a two-liter bottle of diet soda and fill a reusable aluminum bottle before you leave the house. Fill your thermos with iced tea that you’ve made at home.
- Buy Products Containing Recycled Materials
When you purchase something new, look for a brand that incorporates as much recycled plastic as possible. For example, Oceanness makes clothing using recycled plastic bottles. Adidas makes sneakers using as many recycled materials as possible.
- Take Out What You Bring In
Whether you’re going to the beach for a day or hiking up a mountain trail, everything that you bring with you needs to be back in your bag or backpack when you leave. If you bring a sandwich wrapped in cling wrap, put it in your backpack and bring it with you.
Make Sure You’re Recycling Properly
The most important rule when it comes to recycling waste is to recycle properly. The more plastic that ends up in the recycling stream, the better it is. Use our tips above or refer to tools at Recycle Nation to make sure items go to the right spot.
