The Meaning of Recycle Symbols on Plastics
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET). A 1 inside the triangle indicates the plastic is polyethylene terephthalate,...
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). A 2 inside the triangle indicates the plastic is high-density polyethylene, or HDPE.
- Vinyl (V or PVC). A 3 inside the triangle indicates the plastic is vinyl or polyvinyl...
What are the different recycling symbols?
What are the different recycling symbols? The “Chasing Arrows” Symbol. The “chasing arrows” symbol we see on plastic containers and products does not necessarily mean the product is recyclable. …. Symbol 1: PETG or PETE. …. Symbol 2: HDPE. …. Symbol 3: PVC or Vinyl. …. Symbol 4: LDPE. …. Symbol 5: PP. ….
What do those recycling symbols mean, anyway?
What Does the Recycling Symbol Mean, Anyway?
- Recyclable (Sometimes, Some Places) Meaning #1: An item with this symbol on it is recyclable somewhere. This doesn’t mean an item is recyclable in San José!
- Made From Recycled Materials. The recycling symbol over a dark circle means that the item was made from recycled materials. ...
- Plastic Resin Code, or Type of Plastic. ...
- The How2Recycle Label. ...
What does the 5 in the recycling symbol mean?
- Does your electrical good have a plug? Or use a charger? Need a battery? ...
- Remember to look out for the previously mentioned recycling symbol for a stamp of approval before buying.
- Bring your broken electrical goods back to life by repairing them but buy smart in the first place to guarantee longer lifespan. ...
What does the recycling symbol mean, anyway?
What Does the Recycling Symbol Mean, Anyway?
- Recyclable (Sometimes, Some Places)
- Made From Recycled Materials
- Plastic Resin Code, or Type of Plastic
- The How2Recycle Label
- Compostable (But Not in Your Backyard)
What do the symbols mean for recycling?
The recycling symbol over a dark circle means that the item was made from recycled materials. Even though it looks like the recyclable symbol, many products with this symbol cannot be recycled. For example, this symbol appears on a lot of recycled paper products, but paper can only be recycled so many times.
What number symbols can be recycled?
Which Plastics Are Recyclable By Number?#1: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) ... #2: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) ... #3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) ... #4: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) ... #5: PP (Polypropylene) ... #6: PS (Polystyrene) ... #7: Polycarbonate, BPA, and Other Plastics.
What are the different recyclable symbols?
Your Guide to Plastic Recycling SymbolsThe “Chasing Arrows” Symbol. The “chasing arrows” symbol we see on plastic containers and products does not necessarily mean the product is recyclable. ... Symbol 1: PETG or PETE. ... Symbol 2: HDPE. ... Symbol 3: PVC or Vinyl. ... Symbol 4: LDPE. ... Symbol 5: PP. ... Symbol 6: Styrene, or PS. ... Symbol 7: Other.More items...•
What is the 5 symbol for recycling?
Polypropylene5: PP (Polypropylene) PP is used to make the food containers used for products like yogurt, sour cream and margarine. It's also made into straws, rope, carpet and bottle caps. PP products CAN SOMETIMES be recycled.
What number plastics Cannot be recycled?
Plastic goods are assigned different numbers to grade them for recycling: #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) for containers, #4 (LDPE) for bags, #7 for mixed plastics such as polycarbonates that are not recyclable. Almost all recycling centres accept plastics #1 #2, 4, 5 and #6.
What plastics Cannot be recycled?
Examples of non-recyclable plastics include bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper and polycarbonate. Well known non-recyclable plastics include cling film and blister packaging.
Can number 5 plastic be recycled?
5 – PP (Polypropylene) – Recyclable plastic (check Local Authority) PP can be recycled. However, you will need to check with your Local Authority to ensure it is recycled in your area.
Which plastic numbers are safe?
To make a long story short: plastic recycling numbers 2, 4 and 5 are the safest. Whereas plastic numbers 1, 3, 6 and 7 must be avoided. But it does not indicate that you can fearlessly use safer plastic. All plastic products can leach toxic chemicals when heated or damaged.
How can you tell if plastic is recyclable?
Recyclable plastic usually comes with a little recycling symbol printed on the bottom and depending on the product, there might be a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 stamped in the center of the symbol. It's easy to miss, but this tiny digit is actually pretty important, because it's an ID.
Is number 5 plastic toxic?
To summarize, plastics in categories #2, #4 and #5 are generally considered safe. Be weary of putting them in the microwave, even if they are labeled “microwave-safe”. Plastics #1, #3, #6 and #7 should be used with varying to extreme caution, especially around food or drink.
What are #1 through #7 plastics?
To summarize, there are 7 types of plastic exist in our current modern days:1 – Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE or Polyester) ... 2 – High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) ... 3 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) ... 4 – Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) ... 5 – Polypropylene (PP) ... 6 – Polystyrene (PS) ... 7 – Other.
Can 04 plastic be recycled?
Low-density polyethylene, also known as plastic-type #4, is used to make the infamous plastic bags like those provided by grocery stores and other retailers. Technically, LDPE can be recycled.
Can number 5 plastic be recycled?
5 – PP (Polypropylene) – Recyclable plastic (check Local Authority) PP can be recycled. However, you will need to check with your Local Authority to ensure it is recycled in your area.
Can number 5 be recycled in Australia?
This is a hard but still flexible plastic. It's used for ice cream containers and lids and plastic take away containers. Yarra accepts food containers labelled 5 only.
Which number plastic bottles are safe to reuse?
Reusing plastic bottles with codes #1 and #2 is probably fine to do on occasion, provided you take certain precautions. Unless you know for certain that the #7 bottle you have doesn't contain BPA, don't reuse it. You may also wish not to use it at all, even for one-time use.
What are #1 through #7 plastics?
To summarize, there are 7 types of plastic exist in our current modern days:1 – Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE or Polyester) ... 2 – High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) ... 3 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) ... 4 – Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) ... 5 – Polypropylene (PP) ... 6 – Polystyrene (PS) ... 7 – Other.
What is the RIC on plastic?
The symbols—then collectively called the Resin Identification Code (RIC)—were developed in 1988 by the organization now known as ...
What does the 1 in the triangle mean on a plastic bottle?
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) A 1 inside the triangle indicates the plastic is polyethylene terephthalate, which is shortened to PET or PETE. This symbol is normally found on bottles for soft drinks and water; salad dressing, peanut butter, and vegetable oil containers; and mouthwash bottles.
What does a 2 in a triangle mean?
A 2 inside the triangle indicates the plastic is high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. You can find HDPE in milk jugs, shampoo bottles, butter and yogurt tubs, motor oil bottles, shopping and trash bags, bags inside cereal boxes, and household cleaner and detergent bottles.
What is PP in a bottle?
Polypropylene (PP) Getty Images. A 5 inside the triangle indicates the plastic is polypropylene or PP. It is commonly found in medicine bottles, straws, bottle caps, ketchup bottles and syrup bottles, and some yogurt containers.
Is the RIC system still in place?
In the meantime, the RIC system is still in place and helpful for both consumers and those who want to run a plastics recycling operation, which generally deals with packaging used for consumer products. Each number represents a type of plastic, and different types of plastics are generally used in the same types of packaging.
Can you recycle PS?
It is generally considered to be difficult to recycle and has been banned in some municipalities in the U.S. It is possible to recycle PS into packaging and containers, as well as foam packing, light switch plates, and insulation.
Can PP be recycled?
This plastic is often chosen for bottles and containers that must accept hot liquids as it has a high melting point. PP is rarely recycled. When it is, it can be made into trays, pallets, bins, rakes, bicycle racks, landscape borders, ice scrapers, auto battery cases, brushes, brooms, battery cables, and signal lights.
Recycling symbols explained
These symbols are here to help you when you’re categorizing your waste. Recycling symbols may seem confusing but they don’t have to be.
What does not go in the recycling bin?
Ideally, all materials should be able to be recycled but that’s not the reality. It is also quite easy for materials to be contaminated from other types of waste. Some items may fall into the categories above but still should not end up in the recycling bins.
Conclusion
Recycling saves energy, raw materials and also reduces cost. Converting waste back to raw materials extends its usefulness. It is important to do it correctly to fully benefit from this process. Where possible avoid using single use items, especially single use plastics and choose reusable items.
Quick Guide to Recycling Plastics
America is drowning in trash. Americans put 27 million tons of plastic in landfills in 2018 alone. That's roughly 75% of the plastic Americans produced that year.
The Universal Recycling Symbol
The universal recycling symbol contains three twisting arrows. These arrows point to each other, forming a triangle with rounded corners.
The Meanings of Your Recycling Symbols
Recycling symbols are simple yet profound. The universal recycling symbol is the same almost everywhere. The numbers designate different kinds of plastics.
Plastic Recycling Symbols
We're told that over 90% of plastic is not recycled, which is a shocking statistic. It's no wonder plastic waste is such as huge global problem. So by disposing of our own plastic properly, at least we know we'll be doing our bit to avoid making it any worse.
What do the Numbers on Recycling Symbols mean?
The numbers tell you what type of plastic a product is made from. From this you can tell whether it can be recycled, and how to properly dispose of it.
What Numbers Cannot be Recycled?
It is technically possible to recycle all numbers, but only if the facility exists to do so. Sadly there are some such as #3 PVC, #5 Polypropylene and #6 Polystyrene are rarely recycled.
What does the symbol 7 mean?
Symbol 7 including the word “OTHER” stands for “other plastics,” which include, but are not limited to, acrylic plastic, polycarbonate plastic, polylactic fibers, nylon, and fiberglass. Not every plastic can be recycled. However, both acrylic and polycarbonate can be recycled and can be repurposed for future projects.
What is the symbol for polystyrene?
Styrene plastic, also known as polystyrene, is marked with symbol 6 that includes the acronym PS. This plastic is commonly used in toys, hard packing, refrigerator trays, cosmetic bags, costume jewelry, CD cases, and vending cups. Although not accepted in many curbside recycling programs, it can be recycled to make egg cartons, take-out containers, and rulers.
What does the PETE symbol mean?
Symbol 1 with the acronym PETE PETG plastic. Also known as PETE, this symbol represents polyethylene terephthalate, which is commonly used for soft drink bottles, mineral water containers, and fruit juice containers, and cooking oil containers. The plastic is easily recyclable so it’s often part of curbside recycling programs. It can be reused to make containers, carpet, and furniture.
Can you reheat a symbol 7 plastic?
Since they are both thermoplastics, they can be reheated without a loss in quality. For symbol 7 plastics, be sure to confirm with your local recycling program. There are many use cases for acrylic- –you may be able to find it in use for food storage—many food containers are made of acrylic for their strength and transparency.
What is a recycle/don't recycle label?
The Recycle/Don’t Recycle label is provided for each part of the packaging. For example, the tray, carton, cardboard sleeve, the foil will all have their own Recycle/Don’t Recycle label. The labels also include some basic instructions to help ensure the greatest amount of recycling and minimal contamination.
What does the recycling label on a cereal box tell you?
For example, if you have a cereal packet the recycling label will tell you what you can do with each different component of the packaging . The cardboard box goes in your recycling bin and the bag inside is returned to ...
What is an OPRL label?
The UK’s On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) mission is to deliver a simple, consistent and UK-wide recycling messages. Ultimately, they want consumers to be able to recycle right and more often. Their message is delivered through their On-Pack Recycling Label.
What is the plastic resin code?
What about the Plastic Resin Code? The plastic resin code numbers 1 through 7 can be a tool to help determine if an item is recyclable but it’s important to realise it is not a recycling symbol.
What are the codes for plastic recycling?
Knowing the type of plastic can help you determine if your local authority accepts that type of plastic for recycling. Generally, resin codes number 1, 2, 4 and 5 are accepted and numbers 3, 6 and 7 are not accepted. Be sure to check with your local authority.
Is there a perfect recycling system?
It’s not a perfect system and if you are keen to recycle as much as you can then you might need to do your own research. If your local area is ahead of the rest in recycling services you will want to check and not just rely on the label. If you are unsure check with your local authority, here is the RecycleNow Locator.
Who runs curbside recycling?
Every curbside recycling program is run by a council or municipal authority. All of these groups will usually provide information regarding what they do and do not accept. The majority of these are really useful and worth reviewing and checking on a regular basis.
