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Polyethylene Plastics
Look at the bottom of almost any plastic consumer item and you will find the chasing arrow recycling symbol with a number in the middle. Displaying a number 1 through 7, the symbol identifies the kind of plastic. Most consumer plastic is polyethylene. There are many kinds of PE including both polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene. Both PET and HDPE, like all polyethylene plastics, are created by polymerizing ethylene gas, H2C=CH2.
PET Plastic
PET is the most widely used and recycled polyethylene. It is identified with the chasing arrows symbol and number "1." PET is the lightest PE and is frequently used in single-serving containers such as water bottles and soda bottles. It is semi-rigid and can leach chemicals into its contents when exposed to high temperatures and sunlight. PET is commonly recycled into fabric and recycled PET.
HDPE Plastic
The chasing arrows recycling symbol with a "2" in the middle of it identifies HDPE plastic. HDPE is more durable, translucent and nonleaching than PET. The most common household items made of HDPE are detergent bottles and milk jugs. HDPE holds up well against UV rays, which can damage and discolor PET. It is dishwasher safe and able to withstand extreme temperatures from minus 148 degrees to 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
Plastic Recycling Marketplace
Most community recycling programs recycle only plastics labeled "1" and "2," which include both PET and HDPE. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, these are the most easily recycled and recoverable plastic types. The recycling marketplace can handle much more plastic than it is receiving. Consumers are encouraged to keep this marketplace thriving by making recycling a habit at their households.
How PET and HDPE Are Recycled
Plastics take a long road from community recycling programs to new products. After they are recovered, all recyclables are transported to a material-recovery facility, sorted by type and sent to reclaiming facilities. At those facilities, plastic is separated from contaminates, washed and shredded into flakes. A water bath further separates plastics from smaller contaminates based on floating densities. The flakes are then dried, melted and formed into pellets. Manufacturers use these pellets to make new plastic products.