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The simplest, most effective way to start recycling plastics: get PET soft drink bottles out of our landfills and turned into polar fleeces - among other things.
If you've been avoiding recycling plastics because the different types seem to make it a hassle, here's the simplest, most effective way to start: with the familiar plastic soft drink bottle, made of highly recycleable polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Instead of taking up useless space in landfills, PET containers can be recycled into a wide range of products, including "polar fleece" material, T-shirts and other clothing, carpet fibres, roof insulation, park benches - and other plastic bottles.
PET items are easily identified with the code “1”, marked on or near the base:
Apart from soft drink and water bottles, you'll also see the PET code on some other bottles and jars e.g. for peanut butter, salad dressing, oils, cosmetics and household cleaners, and food trays. Don't assume the product is made from PET; make sure it has the "1" code before recycling.
To find your nearest PET recycling point, look on PETCO or MyWaste.
- Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Editor, Health24, June 2012
