Plastic Recycling Symbols
| #1 (PET or PETE) Polyethylene Terephthalate | Carbonated drink bottles, deli containers, medicine containers. Usually clear. | Do not use if container has become heated. May be recycled into T-shirts, carpeting, pillow stuffing... |
| #2 (HDPE) High Density Polyethylene | Bleach, oil, milk, detergent and shampoo bottles. Hard, often colored. | Recycled into new bottles, binders, fencing, plastic lumber...Recycled into new bottles, binders, fencing, plastic lumber... |
| #3 (PVC) Polyvinyl Chloride Sometimes marked V |
Plumbing pipe, squeeze bottles, vinyl shower curtains, auto interiors, gutters, house siding, flooring, rain gear, credit cards. | Worst for the environment. Rarely recycled. Difficult to recycle. Pollutes landfills. Recycled into building supplies.. |
| #4 (LDPE) Low Density Polyethylene | Cling wrap, grocery-garbage bags, bread and storage bags. Flexible and waxy. | Rarely recycled. Can be recycled into bags, plastic lumber... |
| #5 (PP) Polypropylene | Syrup bottles, margarine tubs, yogurt containers, diapers, toothbrushes, outdoor furniture and carpeting. Usually opaque. | Recycles into car parts, milk crates... |
| #6 (PS) Polystyrene | Coffee cups, take-out containers, home insulation, egg cartons. Can be clear or foamed. | Recycles into rulers, desk accessories, license plate frames, light switch plates. |
| #7 other (polycarbonate always grouped here) |
Ketchup bottles, reuse water bottles,
baby bottles, storage containers. Catch-all for 'other' plastics or a mix of plastics. |
Try not to use polycarbonate(PC)=BPA |
| #8 | No such code yet. Might be a good label for organic plastics though. |
Recycling: see Recycling page... |
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| Recycling Codes: | |
www.americanchemistry.com |
American Chemistry Council. For more information on Resin Identification Codes. |
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