How to Recycle Plastic in Maryland

Plastics come in several different types and according to the Fredrick County Guide to Recycling, each type is suited for a different kind of product application. The plastic industry labels recyclable plastic with a code. You can find this code on the bottom of a plastic product; it is shaped like a triangle with a number printed inside. The numbers are 1 through 7, and each of them stands for a different kind of plastic. The codes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 stand for PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS and OTHER, respectively. If you do not have curbside recycling that accepts all plastics, you will need to know the type of plastic you have to find a recycling facility that accepts it.

• 1

  Contact your city's Waste Management Department to find out if you have curbside recycling available in your area. If you do and you choose to join the program, you will need to ask what types of plastics are allowed in the bin. Some places, like Harford County, will allow plastics of all types as long as they have an identification code on them. Others will only take plastics with a specific code on them.

• 2

  Prepare your plastics for recycling by emptying their contents and lightly rinsing them out. If you will be using a curbside program, consult with your city's Waste Management Department to ensure that you follow all rules and requirements they may have for recycling plastics.

• 3

  Separate your plastic recyclables by their identification codes if your city does not have curbside recycling or if they only accept one or two types of plastic. Use the curbside bin to dispose of plastic types your city accepts.

• 4

  Contact local recycling facilities near you to find one that accepts the type of plastics that you have. You can then drop off your accepted plastic recyclables at the facility.