RECYCLE

Do we know what we can recycle and what not?

Have you ever stopped to think about whether everything that is plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, metal is really recyclable, or if there is any difference? Yes, there are a lot of them! It depends on its origin, how it was used before, whether it was a previous recycling product, whether we can recycle it or not.

Let's explain what can and cannot be put in the "recyclable" trash.

First tip: When buying a product, look for the symbol ♻️ with a number in the middle to know what type of plastic you are consuming.

Conference Table:

- HDPE (2) = High Density Plastic. It has high recyclability and value for collectors, it makes up packaging for cleaning and beauty products, among others (great choice!)

- PP (5) = Polypropylene. It has high recyclability and is present in bottle caps, margarine and ice cream tubs, among others. ( good choice ! )

- Plastic 7 (Others) = are all plastics that do not fit into the 6 other existing plastic classifications, the recommendation is to avoid consuming products that are made from this type of plastic due to its low recyclability. (❌ generally end up discarded as waste in landfills and dumps)

So what to do with plastics that are not recyclable? It's best to put it in the dry trash, yes, but preferably in a bag separate from the real recyclables, to make the job of those who do the sorting easier.

Now, pay attention! What is recyclable is not always recycled, that is, it goes to the collection point but ends up in the landfill, it is not actually recycled, due to the complexity of the process and the lack of technology still available. Metallic packaging on the inside, such as snacks and biscuits, for example, goes through this. Sometimes they will have the symbol 7 (Others), sometimes with the symbol 5 (PP), but in reality they are BOPP, a type of plastic with low recyclability. The fact that there is a mixture of materials (plastic + metal) makes their recycling cycle unfeasible.

So let's take care of the planet by paying attention to these details!

Super special thanks to our dear client and photographer Silvia Mendes, who shared with us a post by Maddu Magalhães with the people at Pimp My Carroça and the Cataki app.