Why are plastic straws not recyclable but plastic cups are?
Plastic straws and plastic cups are both made of plastic, but they have different recycling codes. Plastic straws are typically made of polypropylene (PP), which has a recycling code of 5. Plastic cups are typically made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has a recycling code of 1.
PET is a more recyclable material than PP. This is because PET can be easily broken down into its component parts. PP is more difficult to break down, and it often ends up in landfills.
In addition, plastic straws are often too small to be recycled. Recycling machines can't handle small items, so they often end up in landfills. Plastic cups are large enough to be recycled, so they are more likely to be recycled.
As a result of these factors, plastic straws are not recyclable in most places. Plastic cups are recyclable in most places.
Related Questions
- What is the recycling code for plastic straws? 5
- What is the recycling code for plastic cups? 1
- Why is PET more recyclable than PP? PET can be easily broken down into its component parts.
- Why are plastic straws often too small to be recycled? Recycling machines can't handle small items.
- Where do plastic straws that are not recycled end up? Landfills
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