Recycling Codes Explained
- 1 PET or PETE. We will begin our journey with a plastic everyone is likely to be familiar with: PET or PETE, which...
- 2 PEHD or HDPE. High-density polyethylene (PEHD or HDPE) is labeled as
- 2. HDPE is a widely used plastic due to its...
- 3 PVC. Unlike the previous two, polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is used less often in consumer goods. Instead,...
What are the different recycling numbers?
recycling purposes. The recycling code consists of the numbers 1 through 7. Sometimes below the numbers you also find the abbreviations for the plastic type (PETE, HDPE, etc.). The most widely accepted plastics for recycling are number 1 and 2. Below is a list of the numbers, full names of the plastics they refer to, and some examples of
What do the recycling numbers mean?
recycling numbers are a uniform way of classifying the different types of plastic and it aids recyclers in the sorting process. Note that sometimes other numbers are found on the bottom of plastic containers, but only numbers inside the recycling symbol are valid for recycling purposes. The recycling code consists of the numbers 1 through 7.
Which numbers can be recycled?
Top 5 Recyclable Products
- Paper – office, newspaper, & magazines
- Cardboard – paperboard & corrugated boxes
- Plastic – bottles, tubs, and jugs – bottles, containers, tubs, & jugs
- Glass – bottles & jars
- Metal – aluminum, tin, & steel cans & scrap
What are the recycle numbers?
Walters encourages recyclers to think about these three guidelines:
- Know what to throw —The most common recyclables are paper and cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles, and jugs.
- Empty, clean, dry —Recyclables that have been soiled with food waste could come into contact with paper or cardboard and contaminate an entire recycling truckload.
- Don’t bag it —Keep recycling loose in the bin.
What do recycled numbers mean?
The recycling numbers are a uniform way of classifying the different types of plastic and it aids recyclers in the sorting process. Note that sometimes other numbers are found on the bottom of plastic containers, but only numbers inside the recycling symbol are valid for recycling purposes.
Which plastic numbers are recyclable?
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 does the #4 mean for recycle?
Plastic #4 constitutes items such as grocery bags, squeezable bottles, bread bags, and frozen food packaging.
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)
What is not recyclable?
You should not recycle packaging that contains dangerous products — or in other words, products that are ignitable, corrosive, or toxic. Examples include oil paint, motor oil, fuel, poisons, or medical waste. If these items are empty, and all you have left is the packaging, then throw the packaging in the trash.
Is a triangle with a 5 recyclable?
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. This plastic is often chosen for bottles and containers that must accept hot liquids as it has a high melting point.
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 I reuse number 5 plastic?
However, #5 plastic is today becoming more accepted by recyclers. PP is considered safe for reuse. To recycle products made from PP, check with your local curbside program to see if they are now accepting this material.
Is Number 4 plastic safe?
Yes, 4 is among safe plastics numbers. Taking into account the low 4 plastic recycling facilities, you should reuse LDPE 4 plastic at least a few times before moving it to a garbage bin.
Can 07 plastic be recycled?
7 resin code is more of a miscellaneous category. Items in this category are all other products that don't fit into the main six types. For example, plastics in this category can be made up of any combination of 1-6 or another, less commonly used plastic. Other plastic products can sometimes be recycled.
Is PC 7 plastic safe?
Packaging will confirm that this #7 plastic is a PLA plastic, and is safe to use. Polycarbonate is a clear, rigid plastic, and it's marked with #7 PC. It's not recyclable, and it contains BPA (Bisphenol A).
Is BPA free 7 plastic safe?
Code 7 is the recycling code for plastics that contain BPA and must be avoided at all cost. Although codes 3 and 6 technically do not contain BPA, the chemicals that are used to manufacture these products also pose serious risks to our health.
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 plastic be reused?
If you find as #2, #4, or #5 plastic, those are fairly safe to reuse. These contain low levels of polyethylene thermoplastic, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene.
What numbers are recyclable in CA?
Plastics #1 and #2 are the most common types of plastic containers and the most easily recyclable. They are also the most likely to have a California Redemption Value ( CRV) associated with them.
Can you recycle number 5 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.
What materials have their own recycling codes?
Papers, metals, batteries, biomatter, glass and composite materials all have their own numbers and labels for recycling purposes. The most common of these are glass and paper. The majority of the time these materials are much easier to sort by simply looking at the material instead of searching for a recycling code.
How much LDPE is recycled?
Currently, the EPA states that less than 6 percent of LDPE is recycled every year. Once it is recycled, LDPE is commonly seen as garbage bin bags.
What is LDPE in recycling?
Consumers most often interact with LDPE in the form of plastic bags found at grocery stores, as well as in squeeze bottles and bread bags. It is picked up curbside more commonly than it once was, but you might need to contact your recycling program to make sure they will take it. Currently, the EPA states that less than 6 percent of LDPE is recycled every year. Once it is recycled, LDPE is commonly seen as garbage bin bags.
How many times can PVC be recycled?
PVC is nonetheless recycled and is most commonly reused in a commercial setting. An interesting fact of PVC is that it can be recycled approximately seven times before degrading and can be used for well over 100 years.
What is #7 plastic?
The last of the plastic labels is a catch-all for all remaining plastics. The most common plastic associated with #7 is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is widely used in electronic devices, from your phone to your computer. It is a controversial plastic when used in food containers.
Can you recycle plastic #2?
As with our first plastic, #2 is picked up by most cur bside recycling programs. It is also becoming more prevalent as a plastic that can be recycled into 3-D printing material – a process that is being shown to use much less energy than traditional recycling practices.
Something is recyclable only if there is a buyer for it
Many people don’t understand that recycling is a for-profit business. Yes, your community pays to have trash and recycling hauled away, but then the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF, or the place where they sort out those recyclables) is a business and needs to be able to sell those materials to a manufacturer who wants them.
Size and shape matters
Most recycling programs will take #1 and #2 plastic, but not ALL #1 and #2 plastic. Why? Because of the way recyclables are sorted at the MRF. Flat plastics, pill bottles and other small plastics will usually fall through the cracks of the screening process and cause headaches for the workers and extra expense spent cleaning that stuff out.
What are the rules for recycling plastic?
So what does all of that mean for you? A few things: 1 Types 1 and 2 plastics may be tossed into standard recycling bins. 2 Other plastic types may not be permitted in your bin, depending on your municipality’s guidelines. 3 Hard-to-recycle plastics – including Styrofoam, shrink wrap and manufacturing scrap – require specialized handling.
What is the most complicated material to recycle?
At Miller Recycling, plastic is one of the materials we receive and process. It’s also the most complicated material to recycle, in part because consumers don’t know what types can be disposed of and in which ways. A product made of plastic is often stamped with a resin code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made ...
What is the code for plastic?
A product made of plastic is often stamped with a resin code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The presence of a resin code doesn’t necessarily mean that the product can be recycled.
Can you dispose of soda bottles in Massachusetts?
Recycling these containers isn’t just an option: it’s the law.
Can #7 plastic be recycled?
Any type of plastic that doesn’t fit into one of the first six categories falls under this heading. Products stamped with a 7 are often made out of multiple plastic types or out of other types of plastic that can’t easily be recycled. #7 products CAN SOMETIMES be recycled.
Can PVC tubing be recycled?
Plastic tubing, kids’ toys, plastic trays and furniture are often made out of PVC. PVC products CANNOT be recycled.
Can you recycle styrofoam?
It’s not viable for some plastics recycling companies to take hard- to-process plastic products like Styrofoam. Bags made of type 4 plastic, like produce and grocery bags, also shouldn’t be put into recycling bins because they can get tangled in the equipment at recycling facilities.
What is the second recycling number?
The second one of the recycling numbers is also known as commonly recycled plastic. You can usually find this type of plastic in milk jugs, household carpet cleaner and detergent containers, and also some plastic bags. Furthermore, they are considered a safe form of plastic.
What is the first number for plastic recycling?
Easily recycled ones. PETE or PET (#1) – the first of the plastic recycling numbers. It is abbreviated from Polyethylene Terephthalate, it is most commonly found in soda, water, and juice bottles. Additionally, it is also found in most food packaging. This type of plastic is often clear in colour. It is one of the most recyclable types ...
How many types of plastic are there?
First things first, there exist 7 types of plastics. If you memorise these 7 plastic numbers, you will not have too many problems ...
Is clear plastic recyclable?
This type of plastic is often clear in colour. It is one of the most recyclable types of plastic and most recycling programmes accept them . They can either be reprocessed into recycled plastic bottles and packaging or turned into fibre for the creation of textile products such as fleece garments and carpets.
Can you recycle plastic?
Depending on your local council, you may or may not recycle such type of plastic. But more often than not, recyclers do not accept mixed plastics. Additionally, they also contain the dangerous chemical BPA, a known toxic, synthetic compound that compromises one’s fertility.
What can you recycle peanut butter jars for?
It’s accepted by most curbside recycling programs and can be recycled to make items like egg cartons, containers, carpet, and more.
What does RIC mean on plastic?
Also known as the resin identification code, or RIC, each number imprinted on a plastic product indicates the type of plastic resin that product is made with. The code does not mean the item is made from recycled plastic or that the plastic is recyclable in your area.
What does the triangle on the bottom of a plastic bottle mean?
We all know that the triangle symbol ( ♻) on the bottom of plastic bottles means to recycle. But what do the numbers inside the triangle mean? The recycling numbers range from 1 to 7 and stand for different types of plastic. “It’s not uncommon to see a recycling symbol on a plastic container and think it’s OK to toss it into ...
Can PVC be recycled?
PVC can rarely be recycled, but it is accepted by some plastic lumber makers. “As technology improves, recycling centers are beginning to accept plastics that they weren’t able to process in the past. But we still have to help them out,” says Ryan.
How much plastic has never been recycled?
And although many plastics can be recycled, National Geographic reports that 91 percent of plastic has never been recycled. The universal recycling symbol features three arrows that form a triangle, but it’s the plastic’s number that makes a difference as to whether or not the item can head to your recycle bin.
What is PS in recycling?
PS (polystyrene) is also known as styrofoam. Since this material is roughly 98 percent air, most recycling programs don’t accept it in foam form, but items like egg cartons, disposable plates, and carry-out containers may be allowed in your bins—again, check with your local waste management office!
Can you recycle #5 plastic?
With a high melting point, PP (polypropylene) is often the plastic of choice for containers that need to hold warm liquids. Some curbside recycling programs allow you to recycle #5—just be sure to clean and rinse containers before tossing.
Is it better to have one item end up in a landfill than a whole bin?
This philosophy can easily extend to your home as well. Do the best you can to educate yourself about what’s recyclable and what’s not, and toss the rest. Nicole Gulotta Nicole Gulotta is a writer, author, and tea enthusiast.
Can you recycle plastic hangers?
Unfortunately, plastic hangers aren’t always accepted by local recycling companies, so check with your city before putting them in your curbside pickup. To keep them out of landfills, you may be able to donate hangers to thrift stores, churches, or give them away through local swaps.
What does the seventh number mean in recycling?
They stand for six specific types of plastic, and the seventh number stands for all other types of plastic. These numbers helped manufacturers develop consistency in the materials they use for their packaging, ...
How many states require recycling?
This is why they’re often small and hard to find. Additionally, they’re required on certain plastic packaging in 39 states in the United States, but not all. There’s actually a movement away from communities using these numbers when talking to their residents about recycling.
What is a RIC number?
These numbers are actually called RICs (In the recycling and plastics industry, pronounced “Ricks” for short) — which stands for Resin Identification Codes. These numbers only apply to plastics, so you’ll never see them on paper, glass or anything else. If a package is made of one of those types of plastics, then it might have ...
Why haven't cities changed recycling?
They also may have a good specific reason, local to their area, for why they tell residents to do or not do something, when it comes to recycling.
Can you put plastic bags in the recycling bin?
As a side point, never put plastic bags or film in your curbside recycling bin, unless you live in one of the rare cities that accepts bags curbside. Take items with the Store Drop-off label to the store for drop-off instead. The numbers were not created to tell the general public whether something is recyclable.
Which city does not talk about recycling numbers?
This is Portland, Oregon. The City of Chicago uses mostly pictures to tell residents what they recycle, but only specifically mentions number 6 (as something they don’t want). ...
Do you have to put numbers on plastic bags?
We’re talking about the numbers you sometimes, but not always, see on rigid plastic packaging. Incidentally, these numbers are not required on non-rigid plastic ( such as bags, wraps or films), which can further add to confusion. As a side point, never put plastic bags or film in your curbside recycling bin, unless you live in one ...