The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Plastic Recycling Resin ID Code Numbers
 

Many plastic items are marked with a resin ID code – usually a number (1 through 7) or a letter abbreviation – which indicates a particular type of plastic. The code is typically found on the bottom of a container and is often displayed inside a three-arrow recycling symbol. Resin ID codes are used to help identify different plastics for recycling, but they do not provide guidance on the safe or intended use of a product and should not be used for this purpose
Resin Code Symbol Type of Products Examples of Products
made from Recycled Content
1 – PET
 
? Polyethylene terephthalate; includes plastic soda bottles and some detergent bottles; commonly recycled.

Fiber, tote bags, clothing, film and sheet, food and beverage containers, carpet, strapping, fleece wear, luggage and bottles.

2 – HDPE
 
? High density polyethylene; includes milk jugs; commonly recycled.

Liquid laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner and motor oil bottles; pipe, buckets, crates, flower pots, garden edging, film and sheet, recycling bins, benches, dog houses, plastic lumber, floor tiles, picnic tables, fencing.

3 – PVC or V
 
? Polyvinyl chloride; includes garden hoses, plastic flooring, credit cards, and shower curtains

Packaging, loose-leaf binders, decking, paneling, gutters, mud flaps, film and sheet, floor tiles and mats, resilient flooring, cassette trays, electrical boxes, cables, traffic cones, garden hose, mobile home skirting.

4 – LDPE
 
? Low density polyethylene; includes clear packaging on cassettes or CDs, plastic sandwich bags and plastic grocery bags; recycled at many grocery stores.

Shipping envelopes, garbage can liners, floor tile, paneling, furniture, film and sheet, compost bins, trash cans, landscape timber, and outdoor lumber.

5 – Polypropylene
 
? Includes plastic lids, bottle caps, straws, and some food containers; generally not recyclables

Automobile battery cases, signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, oil funnels, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, sheeting, trays.

6 – Polystyrene
 
? Styrofoam, such as coffee cups.

Thermometers, light switch plates, thermal insulation, egg cartons, vents, desk trays, rulers, license plate frames, foam packing, foam plates, cups, utensils

7 – Mixed plastics
 
Several types of plastic mixed together; probably can’t be recycled.

Bottles and plastic lumber applications.

 

    The Society of the Plastics Industry

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