Most people don’t realize that many everyday plastic items — like prescription pill bottles, yogurt containers, takeout lids, and even some reusable containers — are made from #5 plastic, also known as polypropylene (PP).
Even fewer know that despite our best recycling efforts, #5 plastic is one of the least recycled plastics in Canada, with estimates showing less than 5% ever gets recycled.
This August, Clean Up Peterborough is asking local residents to help change that by participating in a new campaign: Find Your Fives — a grassroots community effort to crowd-source a local list of common #5 plastic items.
“We’re not asking for donations or even for plastic yet,” says Steve Paul, founder of Clean Up Peterborough. “We’re just asking people to flip over their plastic, look for the #5 recycling symbol, and tell us what they find. It’s free, it’s easy, and it helps shape the future of our circular economy right here
in Peterborough.”
Thanks to support from the Rotary Club of Peterborough and funding provided thru the REIF (Rotary Environmental Innovators Fund) grant, Clean Up Peterborough has purchased small-scale equipment — including a plastic shredder, heat press, and CNC router — that will soon form the core of a new micro-recycling and makerspace initiative called Second Nature Studio.
Although not a formal recycling facility, Second Nature Studio will focus on collecting, shredding, and repurposing specific plastics — starting with #5 plastics and eventually expanding to include some #2, #4, and PLA (3D printing) plastics. The studio will provide educational workshops, volunteer opportunities, and creative reuse projects — keeping plastic waste local and out of landfills.
Why It Matters:
• #5 plastics are widely used but rarely recycled through curbside programs.
• Many items — including black plastic, small containers, and mixed plastics — are typically rejected by sorting systems.
• In Peterborough County alone, an estimated 2 million prescription pill bottles are distributed annually — but only 10% are recycled.
“The grants we’ve received don’t give us the answers — they give us the tools to engage the community,” adds Paul. “This project is about learning, sharing, and building something new together. We want to treat plastic as a resource, not waste, and create a model of circular innovation that starts right here at
home.”
How to Get Involved:
Clean Up Peterborough is inviting everyone — individuals, families, businesses, and organizations — to:
• Flip over their plastic items at home or work
• Look for the #5 or “PP” symbol
• Log them using this form:
https://forms.gle/9FberAuo9n4XNGH18
In September, Clean Up Peterborough will release a community-built “Accepted Items” list based on submissions, helping guide future collection efforts. The full program launch — including public drop-off — is anticipated for fall 2025.
“The more people who participate, the better the list — and the more we can do together. It’s also a great way to learn about what you’re buying and how little of it actually gets recycled. That kind of awareness can influence future decisions and drive real change.”
Share & Spread the Word
Participants are encouraged to share the campaign with friends, family, neighbours, coworkers, and local groups. Whether you find one #5 item or twenty, every response helps build a smarter, more sustainable local solution to plastic waste.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
