What does plastics #1 or #2 mean?

Somewhere on most plastic products you will find a recycling symbol with a number. The symbols used in the code consist of arrows that cycle clockwise to form a rounded triangle and enclosing a number, often with an acronym representing the plastic below the triangle.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE)
Clarity, strength, toughness, barrier to gas and moisture.
Soft drink, water and salad dressing bottles; peanut butter and jam jars

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Stiffness, strength, toughness, resistance to moisture, permeability to gas.
Milk, juice and water bottles; trash and retail bags.

Source

Tell me again what goes in that can?

If your Utah Valley city (Provo, Orem or Lehi) uses Waste Management...

Here is a list for your use as a reference of items which are acceptable and unacceptable for recycling...

Acceptable Items:

Newspaper
Magazines
Glossy Ads
Telephone Books
Plastic Containers (see examples below)
Tin Cans
Aluminum Cans
Corrugated Cardboard
Cereal Boxes
Tissue Boxes
Metal Clothing Hangers
Paper Towel and Toilet Paper Rolls
Junk Mail
Small Appliances including:
Toasters
Irons
Coffee Makers
Kitchen Mixers
Pots and Pans
Plastics #1
(i.e. Pop Bottles)
Plastics #2
(i.e. Milk Jugs, Colored Laundry Detergent Bottles, Water Bottles, and other Natural Colored Plastics)

Unacceptable Items:

Glass
Styrofoam
Food Waste
Green Waste
(i.e. tree limbs or grass clippings)
Dirt or Rocks
Large Appliances
(i.e. dishwashers, water heaters,
clothing washers or dryers, etc.)
Any Plastic not Labeled #1 or #2

Source
(If you have further questions, please contact our Customer Service Department at 785-3000.)

For other cities using Waste Management recycling containers...

This is a generic list of things that are generally accepted as recyclable. These items change based on what your municipality has contracted the local recycler to collect and the technology employed by the local recycler. This differs from city to city, state to state. Please contact your local recycler for the exact information on what is accepted in your specific location.
RECYCLING ACCEPTABLE ITEMS Aluminum cans Brown paper bags Cardboard Catalogs, magazines and phone books Chipboard (cereal boxes, shoe boxes, etc.) Colored paper Computer paper Envelopes Glass bottles and jars Newspapers and junk mail Plastic bottles and jugs Tin and steel cans White ledger paper
RECYCLING NON-ACCEPTABLE ITEMS Aluminum foil Auto glass or ceramics Batteries Film canisters Light bulbs Painted wood Paper towels Plastic grocery bags (Please return to your supermarket) Plastic wrap Porcelain Styrofoam Treated wood

Source: Found here

Going Blue

A couple of weeks ago I was walking though my neighborhood and ran into a dear friend. (The well educated, and informed author of this blog.) As we were talking, a Waste Management truck came up and emptied her overstuffed, busting out at the seams, blue recycle container. I had seen these blue cans around was curious to learn a little more about them. I had the misconception that these cans were used to haul newspapers and old phone books to some paper recycling center. Mostly for those who didn’t want to take the time to empty their personal containers at one of the drop dumpsters. Oh, little did I know. Did you know how many items you can recycle in these blue cans? I sure didn't. Check out the list here.

As a Provo resident, I called the number on my city utility bill and ordered my very own blue recyclables only container. You don't live in Provo? Click here for information on curbside recycling in Utah county.