Organic materials derived from animal or vegetable sources are biodegradable, while substances derived from mineral sources are generally not. Any curious kitchen scientist can make plastic out of food products, but most companies make their plastic out of nonrenewable crude oil.
Plastics can be melted down and remade into other recyclable products (e.g. a plastic milk jug can be remade into another plastic milk jug), but even if you take the time to put your plastic items in the blue bin, recycling plants may deem them unrecyclable. If the plastic container has not being properly rinsed of food or beverage, or if it still has a label, it goes directly in the landfill, where, as a non-biodegradable material, it can remain for decades.
It takes a lot of (worthwhile!) effort to recycle plastic; the numbers at the bottom of plastic products are extremely important since they determine whether a plastic can be recycled or not, and whether two plastics can be recycled together. If a plastic is not grouped with like plastics, it goes into the landfill, so pay attention to the numbers at the bottom of the plastics and read about the plastic recycling policies of your home state! Indeed, evidence suggests that most plastics are not recycled, but rather are dumped into our oceans where they accumulate over time and destroy wildlife and animal life.
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