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How to Recycle HDPE 2 - Milk and Hair Care Bottles

How to Recycle HDPE 2 - Milk and Hair Care Bottles

HDPE 2 plastic is very common and is usually white or coloured.

Items made from HDPE 2 are milk bottles, shampoo and conditioner bottles, soap bottles, cutting boards and household cleaners.

Some tupperware and other trays and containers as well as pipe fittings are made from HDPE 2 plastic.

This plastic is very recyclable and it goes into your council recycle bin.

Please ensure that the container is empty and rinsed before you dispose of it in your recycle bin. (If it is a milk container, you can drop the rinse water on your garden on the way to  your recycle bin. It will love you for the calcium.)

Image: Schulz Organic Dairy
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Science Notes
HDPE 2 plastics stands for High Density Polyethylene and can withstand heat to 120 degrees Celsius.   It has good resistance to acids, alcohols, esters and oils. HDPE 2 plastic is translucent, strong, has good impact resistance and very low moisture absorption.  HDPE 2 plastic is considered a low hazard plastic (but bear in mind that all plastic products release estrogenic chemicals.)

HDPE 2 plastic is recycled into toys, laundry detergent containers, recycle bins, compost bins, buckets, plastic lumber, benches, stationery like rulers, posts, fencing, roadside curbs, oil bottles, pens, floor tiles, picnic tables and benches.

Related Tip
If you are re-using plastic bottles, it is safer to reuse a HDPE bottle than a PETE bottle. Never reuse a container to hold food or drink however that didn’t previously have that function.