Decoding Plastics Recycling in Denver
Denver Recycles makes it easy for residents to recycle most household plastic packaging. Denver recyclers are encouraged to place all rigid or hard plastic containers (like bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups and trays) marked with a number ♳ through ♹ (1 through 7) in their purple carts. Containers must be empty, and lids must be removed.While you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to determine which plastic materials can be recycled, a couple detective tools do come in handy in determining whether or not a container belongs in your purple cart.Empty containers must just satisfy the following two requirements in order to be placed in purple carts:
- The containers must be made of rigid plastic. If the container can easily be crumpled up in your hand like a plastic bag, then it is not rigid and cannot go in your purple cart.
- The containers must be labeled with a ♳ through ♹ (1 through 7).
What do those numbers inside triangles mean?The numbers stamped inside the triangular recycling symbols (or “chasing arrows” symbols) are known as Resin Identification Codes (RICs). These codes are used to identify the general type or group of plastic resin from which a container was created, and cannot single--handedly communicate whether or not a material is locally recyclable. In other words, the presence of a ♳ through ♹ (1 through 7) does not automatically guarantee that a product is locally recyclable in the Denver Recycles program. Other characteristics, such as rigidity, also play a role.
For example, Denver Recycles accepts rigid plastic (hard plastic) containers marked with a ♳ through ♹ (1 through 7), but not everything with a ♳ through ♹ is acceptable. M any plastic grocery bags and rigid plastic milk jugs share a Resin Identification Code of ♴ (2), but only the jug can be recycled in Denver's purple carts. The rigid plastic milk jugs satisfies both requirements (rigid and labeled with a ♳ through ♹). Plastic grocery are not acceptable since they only satisfy only one of the requirements. It’s helpful to note that even though plastic grocery bags are not accepted in your purple cart, most grocery stores take back their own bags for recycling. Just look for a collection container inside the store on your next visit.
For more information about Denver’s recycling guidelines, please contact Denver Recycles at 311 (720- 913-1311) or visit DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles.