Recently changes to our recycling program allow us to accept a wider variety of plastics.  At this time we can only accept bottles labeled with a #1 and #2 recycling triangle in our curbside collection. We do; however, accept all bottles and containers labeled #3 through #7 at our recycling drop off at 1455 S. Happy Hollow Road.  #1 PET containers like those found with produce items can also be accepted in the #3 through # 7 plastic recycling bin at our drop off.  To find out the number of a plastic bottle or container look  near the bottom of the bottle or container to see its plastic resin code. #1 and #2 bottles and jugs make up over 90% of all bottles in the market place and are usually targeted in recycling programs.  The reason all plastics can't be mixed together for recycling is because of the way plastics are made.  There are two main processes for forming plastic containers - blow molding and injection molding. In a blow molding process the plastic is blown into a particular shape, like a bottle, whereas in the injection mold the plastic resin is injected into a mold that forms a particular shape, like a butter tub. The resins from a soda bottle and salad container might be the same but the different processes used to create them use different chemicals that change the melt index of the container which means they do not melt at the same temperature.  Therefore the bottles must be separated from the containers to be recycled at a plastic recycling mill.  Just remember the definition of a bottle is the neck is smaller than the base of the bottle.  Also please remember to remove the lids from the bottles as they are a different type of plastic.