PVC and V, #3
PVC and vinyl are pretty familiar terms in consumer parlance and can be used for pipes, vinyl siding (duh) and other outdoor features, as well as bottles for automotive supplies like gas. This type of plastic can last for a while: PVC pipes can keep working for a couple of decades. But that also means that lots of American homes, many of which upgraded to PVC plumbing in the 1980s, are nearing the end of their life cycles for their piping.
Part of the problem in trying to recycle this type of stuff is the additives: the material often has a high chlorine content as well as other chemicals mixed in. These chemicals can ruin entire batches of recycled plastics if they get into the mix, so it’s extra important to recycle these separately.
If you’re remodeling your home and have a lot of this material left over, ask the construction company about options for recycling. There are also some specialty drop-off sites that will take the stuff.
