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Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl, #3)

PVC resists weathering and easily disinfected. That makes it a prized material for water pipes and flooring, as well as medical supplies like tubing, oxygen masks and IV bags. It’s also used to insulate wires and cables, and to make credit cards, children’s and pet toys, yoga mats and teething rings.

Unfortunately, PVC is also particularly toxic. It’s classified as a carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That’s largely because it contains chemical additives including phthalates, like lead and cadmium, which leach out and evaporate into the air throughout its lifecycle.

While PVC is recyclable, it cannot go into curbside bins because its high toxicity requires special recycling systems. As such, many recycling centers do not accept it. Overall, less than 1% of PVC actually gets recycled.

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Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE, #4)

LDPE is the softer, more flexible cousin of HDPE (#2). It’s most commonly found in single-use bags for sandwiches, newspapers, bread and dry-cleaning, as well food packaging, cling and shipping shrink wraps.

Some companies claim LDPEs are recyclable. But they’re much less likely to be recycled because municipalities won’t take them — they clog the sorting machines at recycling facilities. Many grocery and home improvement stores offer dropoff bins for bags and other LDPE plastics.

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Polypropylene (PP, #5)

A durable and lightweight plastic, polypropylene is touted for its heat resistance. That’s why it’s often used for hot beverage cups, and for auto parts like bumpers and battery casings.

It’s also found in yogurt containers, bottle caps, straws, prescription bottles, packaging tape and disposable diapers. In its fiber form, it’s used in rope, clothing, camping equipment, upholstery fabricsand carpets.

It’s estimated that fewer than 3% of PPs get recycled because, like LDPEs, many facilities don’t accept them. That’s partly because they consist of several polymer types that don’t all melt at the same temperatures. But some facilities will take them, so check with your local recycling center.

If they don’t take them, some mail-in services like Terracycle that accept various forms of PP. Or see if any friends in a nearby town have curbside PP recycling, and take yours to them. You can also send your prescription medication bottles to Matthew 25: Ministries.