Why can some plastics be recycled, but not others?

I never know which plastics can be recycled and which can't. Also, how is it all recycled? What's the mechanism of recycling?

05 March 2006

Part of the show Recycling, Water Use and Problem Plastic

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Question

I never know which plastics can be recycled and which can't. Also, how is it all recycled? What's the mechanism of recycling?

Answer

Here in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, we only accept plastic bottles for recycling, and that's the guidance we give our public. Basically, the reason we ask for bottles is because they are made from three different types of plastic which we know that we are readily able to recycle. These are PET, PVC and HDPE. So if you stick to bottles the likelihood is that it will be one of those three types of plastic.