Polypropylene (PP) and recycling

Number 5 plastic is used to manufacture the clip because it's recyclable, very flexible and has great strength. PP can also be found in food containers, syrup bottles, tomato sauce bottles, caps, straws and medicine bottles etc. Recycling Number 5 plastics is achieved through some curbside programs or by separating and placing them in your recycle bin to be picked up by the local council.

There are also special areas at most waste disposal yards. Polypropylene is recycled into things such as: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, car battery cases, bollards, landscape borders, decking, speed humps, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays and many more. It has a high melting point, so it's also chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid.

General info

53% of all goods are packaged in plastics. Because of its low weight and relative strength, plastic is one of the most energy efficient, robust and economic delivery methods available.

Greenpeace Pyramid of Plastics

In terms of toxicity and environmental damage, plastics can be arranged in a pyramid, starting from the worst at the top:

1. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other halogenated plastics
2. Polyurethane (PU), Polystyrene (PS), Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), Polycarbonate (PC)
3. Polyethylene-terephthalate (PET)
4. Polyolefins (PE,PP, etc.)
5. Biobased Polymers (Bioplastics)

For more information visit:

Clean Up Australia www.cleanup.org.au

Plastic Recyclers Australia www.plasticrecyclers.com.au

Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org