Did you know? Plastic is a surprisingly versatile material with elemental origins.
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Elements from the periodic table, such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, are the building blocks for a variety of plastics used to make many of the products we use every day. Some plastics are transparent and durable for use in eyeglasses or safety goggles. Other plastics are strong and lightweight, allowing us to ship more products with less packaging. Plastics can even be bacteria-resistant for use in food packaging and life-saving medical equipment.
You don’t have to be a scientist to understand the many ways plastics are useful.
Plastics are used in many types of food packaging and containers for a variety of reasons – they help protect foods from damage, provides food safety and extends the freshness of foods.
What are the different types of plastics used in food packaging?
You may have seen the number 1 through 7 on the bottom or side of a plastic packaging container. This number is the plastic “resin identification code,” also known as the “recycling number.” This number can also provide guidance for consumers who want to recycle plastic containers.
Many major types of plastic resins used in packaging (#1 through #7) are recyclable. Most frequently, community recycling programs collect plastic bottles made from PET (#1) and HDPE (#2), but many communities are expanding their programs to collect additional types of plastics. Although most communities instruct residents to recycle by the shape of an item (e.g., bottles, containers, caps, lids), some communities also refer to the resin identification code. If you have questions about which plastics are recycled in your community, see the 2015-2016 Study on Recycling Access and check with your local recycling or solid waste facility. It’s easy to search online.
How do we know the plastic used in food packaging is safe and not toxic?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety of all plastics currently used in food packaging and food contact materials. A list of these approved substances can be found in FDA’s database.
What does the number on plastic mean?
The Resin Identification Code or recycling number on plastic identifies the type of plastic. Below is more information on and examples of the most common plastics used in food packaging, available at the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and Plastics Industry Association (PIA), along with safety information from the FDA.
PETE or PET (Recycling number 1 / Resin ID Code 1)
What is it? Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET) is a lightweight plastic that is made to be semi-rigid or rigid which makes it more impact resistant, and helps protect food or liquids inside the packaging.
How is it used? PET is commonly used in food packaging for soft drinks, sport drinks, single-serve water, ketchup, salad dressing, vitamins, vegetable oil bottles and peanut butter containers.
FDA Approved for food contact? Yes.
Recyclable: Yes. To be sure, check with your community recycling center.
HDPE (Recycling number 2 / Resin ID Code 2)
What is it? High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a hard, opaque plastic that is lightweight but also strong. For example, a HDPE milk jug container can weigh only two ounces but still be strong enough to carry a gallon of milk.
How is it used? HDPE is commonly used in food packaging for juice and milk jugs, squeeze butter and vinegar bottles and chocolate syrup containers, as well as grocery bags.
FDA Approved for food contact? Yes.
Recyclable: Yes. To be sure, check with your community recycling center.
Class 3 Lumber Forks
PVC (Recycling number 3 / Resin ID Code 3)
What is it? The element chlorine is the primary ingredient used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a common type of plastic that is biologically and chemically resistant. These two characteristics help PVC containers maintain the integrity of the products inside, including medicines.
How is it used? Clear vinyl is used as packaging for tamper-resistant over-the-counter medications, as well as shrink wrap for a variety of products. Vinyl also is used in blister packaging (packaging that has a plastic cavity or pocket) such as in packaging for breath mints or gum, for example.
FDA Approved for food contact? Yes.
Recyclable: Yes. To be sure, check with your community recycling center.
LDPE (Recycling number 4 / Resin ID Code 4)
What is it?Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is thinner than some other resins and also has high heat resilience. Due to its toughness and flexibility, LDPE is primarily used in film applications where heat sealing is needed but also used in rigid applications.
How is it used? LDPE is commonly used in food packaging to make coffee can lids, bread bags, six-pack soda can rings, as well as fruit and vegetable bags used in grocery stores.
FDA Approved for food contact? Yes.
Recyclable: If it is rigid, check with your community recycling center. If it is film, check with your grocery store.
PP (Recycling number 5 / Resin ID Code 5)
What is it? Polypropylene (PP) is somewhat stiff but less brittle than some other plastics. It can be made translucent, opaque or a different color when it is manufactured. PP generally has a high melting point, making it particularly suitable for food packaging products that are used in microwaves or cleaned in dishwashers, for example.
How is it used? PP is commonly used in food packaging to make yogurt containers, maple syrup containers, cream cheese containers and sour cream containers, as well as prescription drug bottles.
FDA Approved for food contact? Yes.
Recyclable: Yes. To be sure, check with your community recycling center.
PS (Recycling number 6 / Resin ID Code 6)
What is it?Polystyrene (PS) is a colorless, hard plastic without much flexibility. It can be made into foam or cast into molds and given fine detail in its shape when it is manufactured, for instance into the shape of plastic spoons or forks.
How is it used? In food packaging, PS is commonly used to make plastic cups, deli and bakery trays, fast food containers and lids, hot cups and egg cartons.
FDA Approved for food contact? Yes.
Recyclable: Yes. To be sure, check with your community recycling center.
Other or O (Recycling number 7 / Resin ID Code 7)
What is it? “Other” or a #7 symbol on plastic packaging indicates that the packaging is made with a plastic resin other than the six types of resins listed above, for example the packaging could be made with polycarbonate or the bioplastic polylactide (PLA) for example, or it could be made with more than one plastic resin material.
How is it used? In food packaging, the #7 type of plastic is commonly used to make water cooler five-gallon jugs and some citrus juice and ketchup bottles as well as cups, coffee lids and clamshell containers.
FDA Approved for food contact? Yes.
Recyclable: Yes. To be sure, check with your community recycling center.
When it comes to reheating food, don’t fear the microwave. Some plastics are specifically created for microwave use.
For more safety information about plastics, visit ChemicalSafetyFacts.org’s plastics page.
2021 Forks Township Yard Waste Site Hours and Regulations - 1051 Frost Hollow Road, Easton, PA 18040:
November 2, 2020 to March 14, 2021
Tuesday & Wednesday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Saturdays 8am to 1pm
March 15, 2021 to November 7, 2021
Tuesday & Wednesdays 11:00am to 7:00pm
Saturdays 8am to 1pm
There will be someone at the site during the hours of operation. Proper ID (Driver's License) will be required to show proof of Township residency to enter the yard waste site.
Should you hire a contractor to drop off any yard waste from your Township residence, they will be required to have a Yard Waste Drop Off Authorization Form that can be found on the Township website or picked up from the Public Works office located at 100 Newlins Road East, Easton Pa 18040.
The following items are prohibited from being dumped at the yard waste site:
Lumber, Pressure Treated Wood, Paneling, Pallets, Shingles.
If you have any questions or need a form emailed, please call 610-438-2670 or SKramer@forkstownship.org
The Center will collect all of the following:
- Single Stream Recycling - Residents will now be able to drop off all recyclables listed under curbside collection
- Yard waste - Unlimited amounts of yard waste (leaves, branches, twigs, flowers, roots, bushes, garden clippings)
- Metal Items and White Goods - Appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers (remove doors; no need to remove Freon), washers, dryers, hot water heaters, dehumidifiers, bicycles, and lawnmowers (oil and gas removed), BBQ grills (gas and/or charcoal removed), and various other household metal items.
- NO tree stumps, loose soils, sod, any wood, construction debris or tree limbs over twelve (12) inches in diameter; human or animal excrement; noxious weeds or soil contaminated with hazardous substances.
- This facility is available for use by both Forks Township’s residents and businesses! Proof of residency will be required for yard waste.
Business Recycling
Recycling is Good for Business and it’s the Law!
The Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988 (Act 101) requires commercial, institutional, and municipal establishments located in Pennsylvania’s mandated municipalities to recycle paper, cardboard, newsprint, plastics, steel, aluminum, and bimetallic cans, glass, and leaf waste.
Recycling saves natural resources, energy, and the environment and contributes to Pennsylvania’s economy. It has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into Forks Township and funds recycling carts and equipment for our public works department.
What Are Lumber Forks Used
Forks’ Recycling Center Makes it Easy for Small Businesses!
1051 Frost Hollow Road
Easton, PA 18040
Proof of residency will be required
Accepts mixed recyclables, cardboard, scrap metal, white goods, and unlimited amounts of grass and yard waste. If you sign your business in with the recycling attendant, you won’t need to track your recycling weight for yearly reporting – we’ll do it for you!
Business Recycling Reporting
The State of Pennsylvania and Forks Township require all commercial, institutional and municipal entities to provide businesses to submit written reports regarding the type and weight of materials recycled annually. Watch for your reporting forms in the mail in December.
Completed and signed reports containing the type and weight of materials recycled, along with any required supporting documentation, are due to Forks Township annually.
Service Information
Friday, September 1st, 2017 is the first day of automated collection using both of our new trash and recycling carts. Only materials contained in the trash and recycling carts will be collected. Your collection day of the week will stay the same. You will be notified of any changes should they occur in the future.
This new program is helping Forks contain escalating costs in the industry and your waste and recycling services will remain at $264 per year and will be billed quarterly along with the sewer bill.
What Goes into the Carts?
Trash Cart
Bag trash before placing into the cart. Lid must fully close in order for the cart to empty properly. Unclosed lids may result in litter. No yard waste is allowed due to PA state law.
Recycling Cart
Lumber Forks
No need to bundle, bag, or tie, but flatten or cut cardboard if needed to facilitate an easy release from the cart. No yard waste is allowed.
Need Extra Trash Collected Occasionally?
Stop by the township offices and purchase a tag for $3 each, affix the tag to your extra bag of trash, and place your bag curbside on your next collection day. There is no limit on the number of bags you can have collected in this manner.
YES, RECYCLE THESE!
Aluminum and steel cans
Glass
rinsed clear, brown and green bottles and jars, no lids.
Mixed Paper
office and school paper, newsprint, junk mail, paper bags, phone books, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, wrapping paper (no metallic or bows).
New! shredded paper can now be recycled by placing it in clear plastic bags.
Cardboard
corrugated, shoe, gift, and cereal boxes, etc., cut or flatten as needed to release easily from the cart.
Plastics
bottles and containers, rinsed #1,2,3,4,5,6,7 on the bottom, no polystyrene (Styrofoam).
New! Food and Beverage Cartons - includes milk, cream, egg substitutes, juice, soup, broth, wine and juice box cartons.
NOT RECYCLABLE
- Food contaminated items (i.e. pizza boxes)
- Plastic shopping bags or any type of plastic wrap or film
- Styrofoam
- Yard waste
- Electronics
- Food waste
- Any glass that is not a bottle, i.e. mirrors, ceramics, windows, light bulbs, etc.
Forks Lumber Co
Missed pickup or other collection issue? Contact our new hauler, County Waste at 1-800-832-1332
2021 Holiday Trash and Recycling Schedule
There will be no collection these holidays; and, the rest of the week following the holiday will be on a one-day delay.
New Year’s Day – Wednesday January 1, 2021
Memorial Day - Monday May 31, 2021
4th of July – Sunday July 4, 2021
Labor Day – Monday September 6, 2021
Thanksgiving – Thursday November 25, 2021
Christmas Day – Saturday December 25, 2021
New Year's Day – Saturday January 1, 2022
2021 Special Curbside Recycling Collections
Each residence can put out two (2) bulk items on their regularly scheduled collection day during these weeks. Bulk items include items too large to fit into the waste cart and are further defined as items having the approximate size and weight of a standard size sofa that can be carried by two (2) men. Examples include furniture, mattresses, rolled up and tied rugs no larger than 3’x6’. Unacceptable materials that will not be collected include construction materials, hazardous waste, electronics, tires, yard waste, grass clippings or additional household trash.
Can't wait for the next quarterly collection? Stop by the township offices and purchase a tag for $20 each. Affix the tag to your bulk item and put it out curbside on your next collection day. No limit on the number of items you can have collected in this manner, but if it’s more than two (2), you will need to contact County Waste at 1-800-832-1332 so they can plan accordingly.
The week of March 8th
The week of June 7th
The week of Sept 13th
The week of Dec 6th
Yard Waste Collection
Yard waste is no longer allowed in landfills in the State of Pennsylvania. There will be (2) yard waste collections: one in the spring and one in the fall each year and these materials will be composted.
Unlimited amounts of yard waste (leaves, branches, twigs, flowers, roots, bushes, garden clippings) will be collected curbside.
- Place your materials curbside as follows:
- Any clean, open-top container (use your former cylindrical, yellow recycling container, but NOT YOUR AUTOMATED CART)
- Compostable brown paper bags available at certain grocery stores or online.
- Tie with cotton or hemp twine in bundles no larger than 3’x3’x3’, and weighing no more than 40 lbs.
- NO PLASTIC BAGS, OR PLASTIC OR SYNTHETIC ROPE, OR TWINE
- NO grass clippings, tree stumps, loose soils, sod, any wood or tree limbs over four (4) inches in diameter; human or animal excrement; noxious weeds or soil contaminated with hazardous substances.
The week of May 10th
The week of Oct 4th
White/Metal Goods Collection
Appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers (remove doors; no need to remove Freon), washers, dryers, hot water heaters, dehumidifiers, bicycles, and lawnmowers (oil and gas removed), BBQ grills (gas and/or charcoal removed), and various other household metal items.
The week of May 17th
The week of Oct 18th
Forklift Lumber Forks
2021 Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics, and Paint, Etc.
Special events to collect these types of items are hosted by municipalities and various organizations at numerous nearby locations throughout the year. Many are sponsored by Northampton County. We will post information and links here as this information becomes available.