We have recycled #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) plastics for many years.  These plastics (#1 & #2)constitute over 90% of the residential plastics commonly in use.  We have not, until now, had excellent, long term, domestic markets for the next biggest residential plastic, polypropylene (commonly called #5 or PP.) That has now changed.

Beginning in September you may add #5 (PP) food, drink and other household containers to the same container in which you now place your #1 & #2 plastics, aluminum and steel cans.

Propylene was first polymerized in the lab of Giulio Natta, an Italian chemist and Nobel laureate,  in 1954.  Large scale commercial production of polypropylene began in 1957.  By 2007, the global market for polypropylene (PP) was 45.1 million tons annually.

PP has a relatively high melting point, 266 to 340 degrees Fahrenheit, and is very strong, pliable and free flowing when melted.  The high melting point is perfect for food products that are in a liquid state when processed but are sold in solid form such as margarine. Consequently it is now widely utilized for applications including household containers.  However, like other plastics, PP will degrade when exposed to excessive heat and/or sunlight.  Therefore it is important to responsibly dispose of #5’s by recycling what you can (currently food, drink, and other house- hold containers.)

Since PP is not a high volume commodity and mills generally do not want to deal with quantities of less than 40,000 pounds, we will be sending your #5’s to a central collection facility in Nebraska.  Once sufficient quantity is collected at the Nebraska collection point it will go on to Avangard Innovative in Texas to be sorted, cleaned, flaked and dried for use in making polypropylene tarps.

This particular mill employs approximately 55 people in their processing center.  We are happy to add this mill to our list in an effort to generate additional U.S. jobs utilizing locally collected materials.

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Worldwide consumption of nondurable goods (like single serve food and drink containers and packaging material) is sky-rocketing. Recycling, at current rates, can by no means guarantee either a reduction in the use of virgin resources or in the amount of waste that will end up being improperly disposed of on the planet’s surface.  So, while it’s great to recycle #5’s, let’s not forget  the one action that will truly have an impact:   Reduce the use of single serve, ONE TIME USE containers!