Many of the efforts people are trying to make in reducing plastic consumption around the world these days involve recycling plastics. While we do as much as we can to recycle here at Becher Plastics, we also understand that plenty of information about plastic is wrong or isn’t properly disseminated. We want to do the best we can to educate the public regarding recycling and plastic manufacturers in Wisconsin. You can learn more by reading our short guide below, where we highlight some misconceptions and misinformation about plastics.

Not all plastic is recyclable

It’s not uncommon to use plastic containers and not feel bad about throwing them out because they assume they can be recycled. On the contrary, not all plastic is recyclable. You might be throwing a cup or container into the recycling bin that will be sorted at the recycling facility and tossed into the landfill anyway.

Using recyclable materials often takes a conscious effort because specific plastics can’t be recycled. For instance, you might feel that you’re doing a good deed by using a disposable coffee cup from your favorite shop each morning. It’s a paper cub with a flimsy plastic lid that you toss into the recycle bin when you’re finished. However, coffee cups are often lined with a plastic resin to prevent your drink from burning through the paper cup. The plastic used isn’t a recyclable material, and plastic that’s dirty from food residue can’t be recycled.

Some plastics recycle easier than others

There are specific characteristics of plastics that make them easier to recycle than others. For instance, transparent plastic recycles better than black plastics. Items that are made from a single type of plastic are also great for recycling. Plastic water bottles are a great source for recycling because they’re made from 100% PET plastic. On the other hand, potato chip bags can’t be recycled for a number of reasons. Not only are they dirty from food residue, but they’re also made from a combination of plastic, aluminum, and paper. There’s no way for facilities to separate these materials and recycle them individually.

A small percentage is recyclable

When it comes down to it, not nearly as much plastic can be recycled as we would like. After sorting through plastics that can’t be recycled at all, recycling facilities and manufacturers have to make a decision on which items are of high enough quality to process and recycle.

Each time plastic is recycled, its integrity is decreased, which means that you can recycle a single piece of plastic so many times before it can’t be used again. So, while you might have water bottles that come from recycled plastic, that might be the last time it’s recycled, and the bottle could end up in the landfill. Ultimately, only about nine percent of plastic gets recycled. The rest is incinerated or sent to the landfill, where it will decompose over hundreds of years.

Reach out to learn more

If you’re looking to reduce your plastic usage or learn how you can recycle more of your plastic, get in touch with us at Becher Plastics. We can perform a carbon footprint analysis of your business, which includes recommendations of ways you can reduce carbon emissions. Contact us by calling 920-809-4778. You can also send a message using our online contact form.

We look forward to working with you and talking about the role plastic manufacturers in Wisconsin play in your carbon footprint.