recycling symbols uk meanings

• Electronic Recycling Symbols. The United Kingdom cartridge recycling association apply their symbol to toner cartridges which have met set criteria making them able to be recycled easily.
• Glass Recycling Symbols. This symbol indicates that the container it is marked with should be placed into a bottle recycling bank.
• Metal Recycling Symbols. This shows that the container or packaging is made from aluminium and so can be recycled. ...
• Paper Recycling Symbols. The National association of paper merchants allow there symbol to be placed on paper and cardboard products which are made from no less than 75% of waste ...
• Plastic Recycling Symbols. With so many different plastics in circulation and virtually no way of identifying them to the untrained eye a plastics identification system has been developed.

Full Answer

What do those recycling symbols mean?

What Do Those Recycling Symbols and Codes Mean?

• An International Symbol With An Earthy Origin. The universal recycling symbol—three folded arrows that form a triangle, with the head of one arrow pointing to the tail of the next—was ...
• The Number Game. ...
• Safety In Numbers. ...

What all the recycling symbols mean?

Recycling symbols & what they mean. Recycling symbols that appear on packaging are designed to inform but can often complicate the matter, meaning our waste has been ending up in the wrong place or even putting people off recycling altogether. According to WRAP up to 80% of potentially recyclable rubbish goes to landfills in the UK.

What do the plastic recycling symbols mean?

What Does Plastic Recycling Symbols/Resin Code Mean? Recycling symbols on plastic items is a three-chasing-arrow forming a triangle numbered from one through seven which tells you the category of plastic an item is made of and how it can be recycled. These symbols are generally called Resin Identification Code.

What do the symbols on recycling bins look like?

This symbol may look like a magnet-torch hybrid (Dragon’s Den here we come) but it actually shows that the product is made of recyclable steel. Waste electricals Waste electrical items - from household appliances to mobile phones and IT equipment - can be recycled if you see this symbol.

What do the recycling symbols mean?

Mobius Loop This means an item can technically be recycled but not that it has been recycled or that it will be accepted for recycling. Sometimes this symbol is used with a percentage figure in the middle to explain that the packaging contains x% of recycled material.

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 plastic numbers can be recycled UK?

The most commonly recycled plastics are: 1 – Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – water bottles and plastic trays....Somewhat recyclable plastics (at specialist facilities) include:3 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – piping.4 – Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) – food bags.6 – Polystyrene (PS) – plastic cutlery.

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...•

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.

What number plastics Cannot be recycled?

Finally, plastics number 6 and 7 are never recycled.

Which of these items you Cannot recycle?

Items that cannot be recycled:Plastic bags or recyclables inside plastic bags.Takeaway coffee cups.Disposable nappies.Garden waste.Polystyrene (foam)Bubble wrap.Syringes or medical waste.Dead animals.More items...

What are the 7 types of plastic can it recycled?

The 7 codes for plastics and the truth behind their “recycling” symbolsSoda bottles.Water bottles.Food packaging.Carpet.Liquids packaging (bottles)Oven-ready food trays.Polyester.Salad dressing bottles.More items...•

Can 04 plastic be recycled?

4: low-density polyethylene, aka LDPE, is used in plastic bags, plastic wrapping, and cling film. It is usually not recycled.

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.

What does it mean if there is no number or triangle on the plastic?

That symbol can be found on most plastics, and you would think that means that it's recyclable. Actually, it doesn't! In the plastics industry, that little triangle is known simply as the “resin stamp,” a marking plastics manufacturers use to indicate the type of plastic it is.

What does the three arrows in a triangle mean?

be recycledThe Mobius loop is the unfamiliar name of a very familiar symbol: a triangle composed of three arrows looping back on themselves in clockwise direction. This symbol indicates that a product can be recycled, but not necessarily that it has been itself produced from recycled materials.

What to do when you see the mobius loop logo?

The triangle on its own means the product can be recycled. Typically, this means that the item can be disposed of with your general recycling. Some...

What are examples of waste with the mobius loop logo on?

As this is the most common logo displayed on recyclable products, you will likely come across it several times in a single day. This could include:...

What to do when you see the recycle and rinse symbol?

This symbol means that the item can be recycled, but it must be rinsed/cleaned before you throw it away. This is often used on food packaging and r...

What are examples of waste with the recycle and rinse symbol on?

There are various types of products that feature this symbol. This includes: Glass Jars (Food) Metal (Cans, tins) Plastic (Shampoo bottles, food...

What to do when you see the recycle, rinse with lid cap on symbol?

Products with this symbol can be recycled. However, you must ensure that they are rinsed and that their lid/cap is tightly secured. This is because...

What are examples of waste with the recycle, rinse with lid cap on symbol on?

A variation of this symbol will appear on any products with small caps/lids. This could include: Plastic Water Bottles Milk Cartons/Containers

What to do when you see the don’t recycle and remove sleeve symbol?

Unfortunately, not all packaging waste can be recycled. When you see this product, it may be that everything but the sleeve can be recycled – so en...

What are examples of waste with the don’t recycle and remove sleeve symbol on?

There are various products that feature this symbol. This includes: Packaging Waste Product labels

What to do when you see the flatten with cap on recycling symbol?

When this symbol is featured on a product, it means that before it is stored in the recycling bin you must flatten the item and ensure the cap is s...

Why do we ignore recycling symbols?

Packages we use every day include recycling symbols on their labels. Most of the time, we disregard those symbols because we don’t understand what they mean or think they say “recyclable,” but it’s more specific than that. Understanding these symbols are more important than one would think, as they help the recycling process run smoothly ...

What does the sleeve symbol mean?

Since the sleeve is not recyclable, the symbol asks you to remove the sleeve. The sleeve is the paper or plastic sheet around the item, commonly found in ice cream cups, coffee cups, and yogurt pots.

What is the resin identification code?

This symbol is called the Resin Identification Code. It contains numbers from 1 to 7, which indicates the type of resin used in the center of three chasing arrows. This symbol also specifies the type of plastic from which the product is made out of.

Can cereal be recycled?

So, pay attention the next time you buy cereal because it can be recycled with carrier bags at the store you purchased it from.

Can you throw out electronic waste?

This means that no e-waste (electronic waste) should be thrown out with regular trash. Check for local disposal companies, because some of them even collect e-waste from your home. Now that you know all of your recycling symbols, you can help make the environment a better place by recycling correctly. previous post.

Electronic Recycling Symbols

The United Kingdom cartridge recycling association apply their symbol to toner cartridges which have met set criteria making them able to be recycled easily.

Glass Recycling Symbols

This symbol indicates that the container it is marked with should be placed into a bottle recycling bank.

Metal Recycling Symbols

This shows that the container or packaging is made from aluminium and so can be recycled. Many drinks cans are made from aluminium but many are made from steel. This symbol allows you to identify between the 2 metals.

Paper Recycling Symbols

The National association of paper merchants allow there symbol to be placed on paper and cardboard products which are made from no less than 75% of waste paper or fibre. None of the 75% can come from mill produced waste fibre either.

Plastic Recycling Symbols

With so many different plastics in circulation and virtually no way of identifying them to the untrained eye a plastics identification system has been developed. The PIC (Plastics Identification Code) makes it easy to identify different plastics with the symbol being embossed into most plastic made products.

What does the recycling symbol mean?

Recycling symbols & what they mean. Recycling symbols that appear on packaging are designed to inform but can often complicate the matter, meaning our waste has been ending up in the wrong place or even putting people off recycling altogether. According to WRAP up to 80% of potentially recyclable rubbish goes to landfills in the UK.

What are some examples of recycling?

Examples include plastic bottles and cardboard. Do your bit by rinsing items with this symbol and avoid contaminating other materials that could attract vermin in recycling centres. Save on water by giving empty containers a rinse in your used washing up water then leave them to dry.

Why is the green dot misleading?

This widely used symbol can be misleading because it doesn’t necessarily mean you can recycle the item or if it’s made from recycled materials.

What to do before recycling goes off?

Two more helpful parts you can play before your recycling goes off to be processed is keeping lids on so they don’t get stuck in machinery and flatting items like plastic bottles that will make transporting it more efficient with less air.

Why are millennials less likely to recycle?

Millennials are often branded as the eco-warriors who are trying to turn the tide on waste flowing into the natural world , but contrary to this, they are less likely to recycle than older generations say the BSA. The main reason being confusion over what can and can’t be recycled.

What is compostable plastic?

Compostable. A symbol by European Bioplastics which certifies that a product is industrially compostable in accordance with the European Standard EN 13432. Don’t place items with this symbol in with regular recycling as it breaks down and can contaminate recyclable plastics. Instead place the item with garden waste.

How much does recycling paper save?

Recycling one ton of paper not only saves 17 trees but also 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy AND reduces greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent. Forest Stewardship Council logo.

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.

What does the recycling symbol mean on corrugated packaging?

The first, the symbol on its own, is now generally understood to be the international symbol for recycling, indicating that the packaging can be recycled .

What does the OK compost symbol mean?

As the general OK Compost symbol only applies to industrial composting (with controlled levels of heat etc.), the “Home” version was created to indicate any packaging or product that would also be compostable in domestic setups.

What is a resy?

In Germany a paper and board recycling scheme called RESY exists. RESY is a consortium including the union of paper producers, the union of cardboard producers and a recycling and reverse logistics specialist Vfw.

What does the green dot logo mean?

It simply signifies that the producer has made a (usually financial) contribution towards the recycling of packaging.

What is seedling logo?

The “Seedling” logo is a registered trademark of European Bioplastics, so suitable permissions / licensing would be required if you were you to use this recycling symbol on your packaging.

What do the three arrows in the arrows represent?

Originally created by Gary Anderson, the three arrows are used to represent the three “R”s – reducing, reusing and recycling. The negative space (in the centre) is also designed to represent a pine tree, whilst also being a variant of the traditional “Mobius” loop which symbolises continuity with a finite entity.

Is GWP cardboard FSC approved?

The vast majority of the corrugated cardboard that GWP Group use in manufacturing your packaging is FSC approved. GWP can also offer “chain of custody” certification ( registration can be viewed here ). Please speak with a GWP sales advisor if you are interested in using this symbol on your packaging.

RECYCLING SYMBOLS EXPLAINED

This sign is used to inform you that more than 75% of local councils collect these recyclable items.

UK Recycling Symbols

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