Much of the U.S. uses single-stream recycling, where plastic, glass and paper go into one bin. Here’s what happens to that material and ways engineering is trying to improve the process ...

HDPE bottles are collected by 92% of councils ... PVC use in packaging is in decline. LDPE Low density polyethylene Carrier bags, some bottles and containers, yokes holding four or six-packs of cans ...

It comes in many forms, like milk jugs, shampoo bottles, single-use grocery bags, cutting boards ... Along with PET (#1), ...

In tests, the method could identify the recycled content in other real-world plastics, including recycled milk bottles with additives ... mixed small amounts of BBS into melted high-density ...