I thought plastic water bottles could be recycled infinitely. I figured every time I threw one into the blue bin, I would end up with another plastic bottle. As it turns out, no. some materials ~can do Although it is infinitely recycled, plastic ~ no One of them.
So where does recycled material go if it isn’t reborn as the original object? I have discovered that most recycled items are recycled (or “downcycled”). This means water bottles can be turned into synthetic fibers or materials for park benches.
But can those park benches be recycled? Can a “recycled” laptop be recycled again? How many times can the material be recycled?
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Plastic: once or twice
Recycling deteriorates the quality of plastic. So in most cases, plastics are downcycled into things like plastic wood or synthetic fibers for fabrics or insulation. It’s not going to be another plastic water bottle or whatever it was originally. Then it can no longer be recycled. Shoes or sweaters made from plastic bottles cannot be thrown in the blue bin if they go out of style.
Therefore, once items made from recycled plastic items are no longer needed, they will likely end up in a landfill. There, it will eventually break down into microplastics that will stay there forever, or worse, leak into the environment. So the next time you think it’s a good idea to buy plastic because it’s recyclable, remember that plastic is typically recycled once or twice and no more.
One of the best ways to reduce plastic waste is to avoid single-use plastic by carrying your own water bottles, reusable straws, cutlery, and portable containers when you go out. Some great alternatives include: stainless steel water bottle and bamboo tools.
Aluminum: Infinite
Soda cans can be recycled an unlimited number of times. Yes, you read that right: the sky is the limit. Aluminum cans are the most valuable recycling item in the United States and have the highest return rate from the time the can is dropped off at a recycling center or picked up by a garbage collector. Next time you feel thirsty, consider drinking a cold beverage from a can rather than a plastic bottle. When you’re finished, be sure to throw it in the recycling bin!
Other Metals: Infinite
Metals are classified into ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals. All metals have an unlimited lifespan, so it is always a good idea to recycle them, regardless of how much you have. If you’re interested in how much cash you can make by becoming an environmental activist, read The Basics of Recycling Scrap Metal for Money.
Paper: 5~7
Paper is just as tricky as plastic. Because it is made up of long fibers, each time paper is recycled, those fibers become shorter, making it more difficult to recycle the next time.
The average number of times printer paper can be recycled is approximately 5 to 7 times. The fibers then become too short to be made into copy paper anymore. At that point, the short fibers can be used to make things like newsprint or egg cartons.
If you want to know how it works, try recycling paper into new paper!
Glass: Infinite
Last but not least is the glass. So are you harming the environment by using glass as a container? Absolutely not! Glass, like metal, can be recycled indefinitely. Additionally, it is more cost-effective to reuse and recycle glass than to make it from scratch.
The only thing you need to watch out for is the type of glass. Different types of glass have different melting points and cannot be recycled together, so ask your local recycling center what types of glass they accept. Think of it this way. If you try to melt coconut oil and chocolate pieces, they won’t melt at the same time because the chocolate melts more slowly.
Typically, container glass (bottles and jars) are recyclable, but check with your local recycling program. Non-recyclable glass (e.g. windows, mirrors, glassware) generally cannot be recycled.
If you recycle overall, especially if you live in a place without government support programs, you are a superhero. But now that I know that metal and glass containers are your best bet, I will always choose them first, regardless of whether I have access to a recycling facility or not.
Editor’s note: This article was first published on June 15, 2017, and was updated in May 2024.
