Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of the nation's municipal solid waste stream. Our nation generated more than 19.3 million tons of plastic waste in 1994, and yet less than 5 percent was recovered by recycling. Although more plastic was recycled in 1994 than in years past, the U.S. is throwing away more plastics than ever. Here in Ohio, most of the plastics that end up in our local landfills are from packaging and containers.
Plastic is a valuable commodity because it is an oil or natural gas-based product.
By recycling plastics, Ohioans are saving energy and conserving a non-renewable source. The plastics industry has voluntarily devised a coding system which makes recycling plastics easier for local communities. Many plastic containers have become lighter and many manufacturers are packaging their products in containers that contain recycled plastic or can be locally recycled. Another commonly used plastic, it is used to produce food containers such as milk and juice jugs, and personal care product packaging such as laundry detergent, shampoo and lotion bottles. A widely used, but harder to recycle plastic, it is a major ingredient in multi-layer packaging, such as aseptic juice cartons and squeezable condiment bottles.