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As of 2025, the Mercer County Improvement Authority (which provides recycling collection for West Windsor residents) will be accepting plastics labeled #5 for recycling, in addition to #1 and #2. Plastic numbers indicate the specific type of plastic, which alters whether or not a plastic item can be recycled depending on location. #5 plastics are made of polypropylene, or PP for short, and are commonly used to manufacture food containers such as yogurt cups, condiment containers, bottle caps, to-go boxes, and amber-colored medicine bottles.
PP is the second most manufactured plastic type, making up 21% of all non fiber plastics produced globally, as reported by the National Institutes of Health. Its strength and inexpensiveness has resulted in increased demand for post-consumer recycled PP, yet The Recycling Partnership finds that only 8% is recycled annually. Like most plastics, PP takes many years to decompose, during which time it breaks down into microplastics that remain in the environment and release toxic chemicals, posing health risks to humans and animals alike. Recycling PP is the first step towards mitigating its environmental impact.
However, as emphasized by the Mercer County Improvement Authority, residents must ensure that all items placed in the recycling are empty, clean, and dry. Recycling bins are often dumped or rejected if they contain food waste and other contamination, rendering the items inside unusable for recycling. Contamination damages machinery and reduces efficiency at recycling processing centers, which results in fewer items being recycled and more plastic slowly decomposing in landfills. By recycling responsibly, we can all commit to a more sustainable West Windsor in 2025 and beyond.
