We are open & shipping products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Symbol 4 with the acronym LDPE indicates that the plastic is made from LDPE plastic, which stands for low-density polyethylene. To aid consumers in their recycling efforts, The Society of the Plastics Industry (now known as the Plastics Industry Association) devised a system of symbols that identifies the type of plastic used, and you'll find these symbols on the bottom of all plastic products. The symbols—then collectively called the Resin Identification Code (RIC)—were developed in 1988 by the organization now known as the Plastics Industry Association. This is one of the safer types of plastic making it ideal for ketchup bottles and medicine bottles. FYI: Just because a product has the chasing arrows symbol, doesn't mean it's recyclable — it's just an indicator of the type of plastic. The ASTM International Resin Identification Coding System, often abbreviated RIC, is a set of symbols appearing on plastic products that identify the plastic resin out of which the product is made. Plus, "there are times when your recycling program may change what it collects," says Mike Brown of Brown and Wilmanns Environmental, one of our environmental consultants. In rare instances, it can be recycled for speed bumps, roadway gutters, and cables. Download my free plastics recycling cheat sheet (PDF)! However, both acrylic and polycarbonate can be recycled and can be repurposed for future projects. Plastic #5 – PP (Polypropylene) Increasingly becoming accepted by curbside recycle programs, plastic #5 is also one of the safer plastics to look for. How to recycle it: These other plastics are traditionally not recycled, so don't expect your local provider to accept them. Our expansive warehouse and manufacturing facility combined with experienced personnel assure that you receive the service and prices that you deserve. Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning, and shopping bags; tote bags; furniture. Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays. For symbol 7 plastics, be sure to confirm with your local recycling program. The Möbius Loop which is represented by three green arrows in a triangular formation means that the item is suitable for plastic waste recycling. The series of recycling symbols on plastic items—a triangle with a number from 1 to 7 inside—can often tell you which kind of plastic the item is made of and how recyclable it is. Symbol 1 with the acronym PETE PETG plastic. So, to help, here you’ll learn about the different types of plastic recycling symbols and what they mean. Therefore, the different numbers in the recycling mark indicate which resin the product is made of. In the end, separating plastics accordingly helps waste management professionals ensure that the right materials end up in the right place. So, to help, here you’ll learn about the different types of plastic recycling symbols and what they mean. Some may also say “Compostable.” #7 plastics are not for reuse, unless they have the PLA compostable coding. How to recycle it: Not many curbside recycling programs accept PS in the form of rigid plastics (and many manufacturers have switched to using PET instead). Numbers 3 to 7: Check your council's recycling advice. Ultimately, it is important remain aware of local laws on recycling and be able to identify plastic … More about how to recycle plastic bottles. How to recycle it: PVC and V can rarely be recycled, but it's accepted by some plastic lumber makers. In the survey, 73% of respondents knew this, although even if an item is recyclable, not all local authorities will have suitable facilities, so still may not accept it. PP, or polypropylene plastic, , is appropriately marked by the number five symbol including the acronym PP. But plastic recycling is a little tricky since seven different kinds of recyclable plastics carry this symbol (polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, low-density polyethylene, etc. HDPE (high density polyethylene) is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially when it comes to packaging. Most food packaging and other plastics are stamped with a recycling symbol, even if they are not commonly accepted for recycling. This therefore makes it an option to include on corrugated cardboard packaging, and is particularly relevant to any packs that will be used / handled by end users (as opposed to within a supply chain). By understanding the number classifications, we can then determine the appropriate disposal route for our plastic products. Plastics recycling cheat sheet. Even if there isn't a way for your town to recycle a certain material, he says there's still a chance they might collect it anyways and either store it or dispose of it. This plastic comes in the form of shopping bags, highly-resistant sacks, and crushed bottles. Plastic Plastic can be one of the most confusing materials to identify for recycling. The Mobius Loop with a number in the centre and a letter code bellow signifies what kind of plastic the packaging is made from. Mixed plastics and other types of plastics Many other types of plastic, such as vinyl banners, disposable Tyvek® clothing (shoe and boot covers, coveralls, hoods, lab coats, aprons, sleeves and pants), and large quantities of other plastics may be recyclable. 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. Its recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), even though the material is in high demand by manufacturers. You may come across this plastic in bubble foils, and trays for sweets and fruit. Plastic material that exhibit symbol 3 with the letter “V” represent PVC plastic or polyvinyl chloride. Facts about the original recycle symbol: PVC is rarely recycled and not usually part of a curbside recycling program. It is also increasingly being accepted in curbside recycling programs. Not every plastic can be recycled. The plastic is easily recyclable so it’s often part of curbside recycling programs. The little number inside the triangle is there to help us identify the type of plastic used for the product. Whether you’re working with acrylic plastic or polypropylene, being mindful of the small numbers within the “chasing arrows” symbol can help you better understand what type of plastic you are using and if it is recyclable at the receptacle. The PIC (Plastics Identification Code) makes it easy to identify different plastics with the symbol being embossed into most plastic made products. Plastic Recycling Symbol When the three arrows surround a number, that indicates the material is a type of plastic resin that can be recycled. Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our team is passionate about sustainability and the environment. This type of plastic is not usually recycled, but it can be converted into floor tiles and shipping envelopes. In fact, returned packaging is burned or dumped massively. The versatile material is in our cars, toys, packaging, clothing, home goods, food utensils, and so much more — but it's also littering our streets, clogging our waterways, and choking marine life. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Inside the 2020 Raise the Green Bar Summit, 45 Easy Changes You Can Make to Save the Earth, How to Dispose of Household Items the Right Way, The Truth About What "Eco-Friendly" Actually Means, 30+ Endangered Animals You Should Know About, The Best Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags, Amina Lake Abdelrahman, Good Housekeeping Institute, Plastic Recycling Symbol #7: Miscellaneous. 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. Essentially, most thermoplastics (which are flexible and are typically containers for packaging consumer goods like drink bottles) can and should be recycled. However, acrylic is also used in signs, shelving, and showcases for its durability. The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) introduced a code system in 1988 that helps with recycling plastic by numbers. some stores will collect and recycle them, studies have shown it as a hormone disruptor, 3 Suspect Plastics to Avoid in Baby Bottles, Water Bottles, More, 12 Companies with Great Recycling Programs, Companies Pushing the Boundaries on Recycling. PVC is also cheap, so it's found in plenty of products and packaging. It took Gary Anderson ‘a day or two’ to come up with his design. How some plastics contaminate the recycling stream. The original recycling symbol was designed by Gary Anderson in a logo design contest held by Bill Loyd, the graphic designer at Container Corporation of America in 1970. This plastic is recycled into compost bins, paneling, trash can liners and cans, floor tiles, and shipping envelopes. Historically, it hasn't been accepted through most American recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it. With all the different rules and symbols, it can be confusing for consumers to figure out exactly what each plastic recycling symbol means and how to recycle it. First, read up on recycling tips from our environmental experts. Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile. These compostable plastics have the initials “PLA” on the bottom near the recycling symbol. How to recycle it: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities might accept it. When it comes to caps, our environmental pros say it’s probably better to dispose of them in the trash (since they're usually made of a different type of plastic), unless your town explicitly says you can throw them in the recycle bin. It's best to throw loose caps into the garbage since they easily slip through screens during recycling and end up as trash anyways. Just like we mentioned under HDPE, plastic shopping bags can often be returned to stores for recycling. Additionally, expanded PVC foam board is used for a wide variety of commercial applications. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. This plastic is recycled into compost bins, paneling, trash can liners and cans, floor tiles, and shipping envelopes. There are numbers from 1 to 7 in the triangle. Recycling can be tough knowing that the items in your recycle bin sometimes end up in landfills. 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