high-density polyethylene scrap

Have you ever paid attention to the “numbers” on the plastic around you? All plastic that is recyclable gets a “resin identification code”. It’s the number inside a triangle of arrows. Those numbers help the recyclers to sort the plastic and so forth.

High-density Polyethylene, or HDPE, receives the number 2. Tupperware is made from HDPE, as well as laundry detergent bottles, milk jugs, folding tables and chairs, plastic bags, bottles, Hula Hoops, and so many more items! But did you ever realize that HDPE is recyclable? Some of our HDPE items are non-consumable, like Tupperware, which is so important in our throwaway society! But many other items, like milk jugs or laundry detergent bottles, are replaced over and over again. What about two-liter bottles? We use so many consumable items every day!

Do you throw out your old milk jugs or two liter bottles? Have you ever thought about recycling them instead? Most major cities have a recycling center that will accept plastics. Imagine if everyone in the nation recycled just one milk jug or water bottle – we could save so much plastic!

HDPE that is recycled is referred to as “HDPE Scrap”. The recycling process grinds and melts and mashes the plastic into Virgin HDPE Granules. Those granules can then be turned into the HDPE products that we use every day. HDPE can be recycled again and again. There’s no excuse for not recycling. It’s never to late to begin!