Reusing and Recycling Plastics

Recently I called our new township* to find out about recycling. In comparing the new service with our current township's, I was surprised and horrified to learn that where we are now, they only accept plastics #1 & 2 for recycling. All those cottage cheese, margarine and yogurt containers are #5 plastic, which cannot be recycled! The bags the newspapers come in are #4. So much cannot be recycled here! Fortunately, our new township accepts all plastics, numbers 1-7, so we are moving to a more eco-advanced place.

So, in the meantime, what to do with all those #5 containers? Put plants and seeds in them!


I took a skewer, heated it on the stove and poked drainage holes in the bottom. At least before we take them with us to Havertown for proper recycling, they will get reused, and we will have lots of nice baby plants to put in our raised bed garden.

If you are interested in learning more about plastic's omnipresence in our world and what you can do about it, take a look at Beth's blog, Fake Plastic Fish. Fascinating!

*Pennsylvania, among its many oddities, has counties and within them, townships, which basically define the school districts.