This column tries to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about recycling, composting and the town's solid waste program.

Q: What do the plastic recycling numbers mean?

A: Different types of plastic are formed from different basic resins. Each type has different properties. To be recycled, the items are separated into their respective numbers so that #1 is made back into #l, for example.

A large influence on what gets recycled is the global market for the type of plastic. The lower numbers (1 & 2 especially) are easier to make into new items and have a steadier market. If you have a choice, buy something packaged in those types of plastic. And remember that recycling is the third best choice - the better action is to avoid buying something at all and to re-use the containers you have.

#1 PET: Polyethylene Terephthalate Used for: soda bottles, water bottles, peanut butter jars, cooking oil bottles

#2 HDPE: High-Density Polyethylene Used for: milk jugs, detergent bottles, plastic bags, yogurt cups (note - some yogurt is in #5).

#3 PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride Used for: water bottles, salad dressing bottles, detergent bottles, cooking oil bottles, shampoo bottles, mouth wash bottles, meat wrap, babies' teething rings, pacifiers, nipples and toys (Barbie for example). Also plumbing pipes, siding for houses.

#4 LDPE: Low-Density Polyethylene Used for. produce bags, food storage containers.

#5 PP: Polypropylene Used for: bottle caps, drinking straws and some food containers.

#6 PS: Polystyrene Used for. meat trays, foam take-out food containers and cups, foam packing materials. It can be foam or plain. When it's not foam, it's used for CD or cassette boxes, plastic utensils, drinking cups.

#7 Other: or mixed Used for: Laminated containers requiring properties of more than one type of resin, some wood substitutes.

Q: A recent article implied it's a good thing to use wood from old growth forests. Can you give some more environmentally friendly recommendations?

A: That article was about wood for outdoor decks, but the problems are similar to those for choosing flooring inside as well. If you are lucky, you can sometimes find wood that you like that has been salvaged from other buildings. If you are buying new, you should make sure it has been harvested in a sustainable way.

This isn't as easy as it might be - there is more than one certifying organization, and some of them are more legitimate than others. Wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is probably good, but if you see wood with the SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) label, it may have been from a clear-cut area.

An interesting choice for interior wood is bamboo, which can be much like flooring from trees, or be veneer, or other forms. It can be sustainably grown and manufactured in an environmentally conscious way. Whether for indoor or outdoor use, you'll also need to make decisions about the potentially toxic effects of some preservatives and of the formaldehyde used in some brands of particle board.

The next CRT and electronics collection is set for Saturday, Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drop off is at the DPW building at 201 Bedford St. Remember that a microwave oven is considered an appliance and should not be brought to this collection. You need to call Waste Management at 1-800-649-2945 to schedule a time for appliances to be picked up at the curb.