Do plastic water bottles ever be recycled to make new plastic water bottles

Question

Do plastic water bottles ever be recycled to make new plastic water bottles

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

No, plastic reycling is what they call down cycling. They can't be made back into the same product they came from. Most plastic bottles are turned into things like park benches, garbage cans etc.

Answer 3

Recycling Symbols

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Many plastics can be readily recycled, but how are you supposed to make sense of all the different types?

Decoded Recycling Symbols

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NUMBER ONE

Most soft drinks, including Poland Spring, Dasani and even Snapple bottles carry this number to reflect that they are bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for consumer use. The narrow-necked bottles are not made for repeated use. The design of the bottle means they're difficult to clean. And, that means bacteria, from your hands and mouth, can grow in the bottle over time, says Royte.

MainStreet's Take: Always wash out with soap and water before reusing.

NUMBER TWO

At the grocery store, when you come across one gallon plastic containers and 2.5 gallon jugs of water, you'll see this number on the plastic.

MainStreet's Take: Wash with soap and water, do not reuse too many times.

NUMBER THREE

Polyvinyl Chloride (or PVC) and are environmentally hazardous and not recyclable. Not many bottles carry this label.

MainStreet's Take: NOT safe to use in the first place.

NUMBER FOUR

Bottles with the number are considered safe, and are made using low density polyethylene. In addition to being used for some water bottles, it's a common oil-based plastic that's used for containers that are squeezable.

MainStreet's Take: OK to reuse when properly cleaned.

NUMBER FIVE

When you pop plastic in the microwave, it's usually has this number because it's made with polypropylene.

MainStreet's Take: OK to reuse when properly cleaned.

NUMBER SIX

This is usually used for egg cartons, and styrofoam cups.

MainStreet's Take: Not a great container, if you are environmentally friendly.

NUMBER SEVEN

Polycarbonate bottles with this number can have many "other" materials. In other words, the bottle may have been used with phthalates, or bisphenol A, or not. It's a catchall. And, since bisphenol A is restricted in Canada, and has been linked to disruption in lab animals, it may be a number you want to avoid if you don't know the content. You'll see this number commonly at the water cooler. And, even Nalgene bottles carry this identification, while being bisphenol free.

MainStreet's Take: May not be safe to reuse.

All these products are approved by the FDA for food, which is what bottled water is considered. "The agency says all the bottles are safe under normal conditions (don't ever microwave food in them), but there have been enough questions raised about migration of chemicals for me to steer clear of certain types," says Royte.

However, Royte says not everyone need panic: "I wouldn't go crazy over it -- I'm done reproducing and I'm not a fetus, infant, or young child, who are more susceptible to hormone mimics." Still, if you're using any of these bottles more than once, make sure to clean the bottle thoroughly with soap and hot water.

Answer 4

Most plastics, when recycled, do not form long enough molecular chains to be made into the same items as they began life. However, the shorter chain molecular structures are able to be used in material such as 'fleece'.

On average, it takes 25 two litre plastic drinks bottles to make one fleece garment.