Omar Khalid
Plastic recycling is a complex process, and consumers often don't know which types of plastic can be recycled and how. Plastic products are often stamped with a resin code, a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. These numbers correspond to different types of plastics, with numbers 1 and 2 being the most commonly accepted by recyclers. Numbers 3, 6, and 7 are more challenging to recycle, with number 7 being the most difficult as it encompasses various plastic types with no standard reuse protocols. Number 5 plastic, or polypropylene, was once difficult to recycle but is now deemed widely recyclable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Plastic number | 5 |
| Recyclability | Widely recyclable |
| Common uses | Margarine and yogurt containers, potato chip bags, cereal bags, takeout containers, packaging, manufacturing, household appliances, automobiles |
| Recycled into | Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, automotive parts |
| Plastic type | Polycarbonate, polylactide, nylon, biodegradable plastics |
| Plastic number | 7 |
| Recyclability | Not easy to recycle, rarely accepted by factories |
| Common uses | Signs and displays, 3-to-5-gallon water jugs, food containers, bulletproof materials |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic #5 is recyclable and is used in the food industry for margarine and yoghurt containers
- Plastic #7 is hard to recycle and most factories do not accept it
- Plastic #7 includes polycarbonates, polylactides, nylon, and biodegradable plastics
- Plastic #5 is polypropylene and is used in the packaging, manufacturing, and automotive industries
- Recycling symbols 1 through 7 represent different types of plastics and their distinct recycling instructions
Plastic #5 is recyclable and is used in the food industry for margarine and yoghurt containers
Plastic recycling is a complex process. Consumers often don't know which types of plastic can be disposed of and in which ways. Most plastic items have a resin code—a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The number inside the triangle indicates the type of plastic and its recyclability.
Plastic #5, also known as polypropylene, is recyclable and has various applications across industries due to its affordability and beneficial properties, such as heat and chemical resistance. It is commonly used in packaging, manufacturing, household appliances, and even automobiles. In the food industry, polypropylene is specifically used for margarine and yoghurt containers, as well as potato chip bags and cereal bags.
While polypropylene plastic is recyclable, not all recycling centres accept it. However, North American packaging recycling organisation How2Recycle deemed polypropylene as "widely recyclable" in 2022. The recycled material from polypropylene can be used to create new products such as signal lights, battery cables, brooms, and automotive parts.
It is important to note that recycling guidelines can vary based on your location. Therefore, it is advisable to check your municipality's or local area's recycling guidelines to understand what types of plastic are accepted for recycling.
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Plastic #7 is hard to recycle and most factories do not accept it
Plastic recycling is a complex process, and consumers often don't know which types of plastic can be disposed of and in which ways. Each type of plastic has a resin code, a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows, which indicates its recyclability. However, the presence of a resin code does not guarantee that an item can be recycled.
Plastic #7, often simply labelled as "Other," includes polycarbonates, polylactides, nylon, and biodegradable plastics. It is a miscellaneous category for plastics that do not fit into the previous six categories. Plastic #7 is commonly found in signs and displays, water jugs, food containers, and bulletproof materials.
Plastic #7 is challenging to recycle, and most factories do not accept it due to the lack of standard protocols for its reuse. It is best to avoid using plastic #7 whenever possible and opt for safer classes of plastic, such as recycling numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5, which are considered relatively safe.
It is important to note that even within these safer categories, it is recommended to avoid heating or microwaving these plastics. Additionally, while plastic #5, polypropylene, has been deemed "widely recyclable," many recyclers still do not accept it. Therefore, it is always advisable to check with your local recycling guidelines to understand what types of plastic they accept and any specific instructions for recycling each type.
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Plastic #7 includes polycarbonates, polylactides, nylon, and biodegradable plastics
Plastic #7 is a complex group that includes plastics that do not fall into the first six categories. These plastics are often labelled as "Other". Plastic #7 includes polycarbonates, polylactides, nylon, and biodegradable plastics. Polycarbonate is a clear, hard plastic that has been associated with BPA (bisphenol A), a hormone disruptor. Due to health concerns, many manufacturers have transitioned to BPA-free plastics. However, some substitutes, such as BPS and BPF, may also disrupt endocrine function. Polylactic acid (PLA), made from plants, is another type of plastic in this category and is known for being biodegradable.
Plastic #7 is used in a wide range of products, including signs and displays, water jugs, food containers, baby bottles, CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and bulletproof materials. It is important to note that not all plastic #7 items can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin. Some may require a specialist recycler.
Recycling plastic #7 can be challenging due to the variety of plastics included in this category. It is always important to check with your local authority or recycling guidelines to understand what types of plastic can be recycled in your area.
Additionally, when it comes to recycling, it is essential to consider the environmental impact of plastic waste. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, less than 10% of the seven billion tons of plastic waste generated globally has been recycled. This highlights the importance of proper plastic disposal and recycling to reduce the negative impact on the environment.
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Plastic #5 is polypropylene and is used in the packaging, manufacturing, and automotive industries
Plastic #5, also known as polypropylene, is a versatile plastic with a wide range of applications across various industries, including packaging, manufacturing, and automotive. It is one of the most commonly used plastics worldwide due to its unique properties and affordability.
In the packaging industry, polypropylene is favoured for its excellent clarity, stiffness, and durability, and impact strength. It is commonly used for food packaging, such as yogurt containers, chip packets, and bottle caps, as it has good chemical resistance, is moisture-resistant, and has a high melting point. These properties make it safe for storing foods at high temperatures and reheating leftovers. Polypropylene is also used for packaging non-food items, such as cosmetics, toys, and electronics. Its versatility allows it to be moulded into both rigid and flexible forms, making it suitable for a wide range of products.
The manufacturing industry also makes use of polypropylene. Recycled polypropylene can be used to create new packaging items, such as paint cans, and is consumed in the production of durable goods like lumber and furniture. Polypropylene is further utilised in the manufacturing of household appliances and automotive parts due to its heat and chemical resistance.
In the automotive industry, polypropylene is valued for its lightweight yet strong nature, as well as its electrical insulation properties. Post-consumer recycled polypropylene can be transformed into automotive parts, signal lights, and battery cables, among other applications.
While polypropylene is technically recyclable, it has a low recycling rate, with less than 1% of PP being recycled according to reports. This is due to the difficulty in identifying and sorting it on manual sort lines, as well as its presence in a wide array of applications. However, advancements have been made in recycling technologies, with a chemist at Procter & Gamble devising a method to recycle PP and remove any absorbed odours and pollutants. This recycled PP can then be used to create new packaging, reducing the need for virgin materials.
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Recycling symbols 1 through 7 represent different types of plastics and their distinct recycling instructions
Plastic is one of the most complex materials to recycle, in part because consumers don't know what types can be disposed of and how. To help with this, the Society of the Plastics Industry implemented the Resin Identification Coding system in 1988—a designated number that manufacturers could stamp on their product (usually moulded on the bottom) to indicate what type of plastic it is. These numbers are known as Plastic Resin Identification Codes or recycling symbols, and they range from 1 through 7. Each number corresponds to a different type of plastic and has distinct recycling instructions.
Recycling symbol 1 is for Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET). PETE is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that’s usually used for single-use food and drink packaging, like soda and water bottles, salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter containers. PETE is fully recyclable and the most common plastic in circulation. However, the recycling rate for PETE is only around 30% each year. These plastics, branded with a ‘1’, are widely accepted by most curbside recycling programs. Just rinse out any food residue and dry the items before placing them in your bin or dumpster.
Recycling symbol 2 is for High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE is another common type of plastic found in many household products like milk jugs, cleaning containers, and shampoo and detergent bottles. HDPE products can be recycled.
Recycling symbol 3 is for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). PVC is a soft, flexible plastic, so it’s used for a huge array of household products. Plastic tubing, kids’ toys, plastic trays, and furniture are often made out of PVC. However, PVC products cannot be recycled.
Recycling symbol 4 is for Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE is used to make grocery bags, bread bags, and bags for fresh produce, among other things. Bags made of type 4 plastic, like produce and grocery bags, should not be put into recycling bins because they can get tangled in the equipment at recycling facilities.
Recycling symbol 5 is for Polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene is used in a variety of industries for its affordability and beneficial properties, like heat and chemical resistance. It is used in packaging, manufacturing, household appliances, and even automobiles. Polypropylene is considered "widely recyclable", and its post-consumer recycled material can go on to become signal lights, battery cables, brooms, automotive parts, and more.
Recycling symbol 6 is for Polystyrene (PS). Polystyrene is used to make disposable coffee cups, packing peanuts, coolers, and to-go food containers. PS products can sometimes be recycled, but they are rejected by nearly every curbside recycler.
Recycling symbol 7 is for "Other", which refers to a miscellaneous category for all the plastics that didn't fit into the other six categories. Products stamped with a 7 are often made of multiple plastic types or other types of plastic that can’t easily be recycled. Common products under the ‘7’ symbol include baby bottles, sunglasses, water cooler bottles, DVDs, sports equipment, and food containers. Plastic #7 can also include biodegradable plastics, like PLA (polylactic acid), which is made from plants and is carbon-neutral. "Other" plastics are traditionally not recycled, so it's important to check with your local municipality for specific instructions.
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Frequently asked questions
The number inside the triangle is a plastic resin identification code, which represents the type of plastic and its recyclability.
Plastic type 5, or polypropylene, is used in the food industry for items such as margarine and yoghurt containers, as well as in packaging, manufacturing, household appliances and automobiles. Plastic type 7 encapsulates all the plastics that don't fit into the previous categories, including polycarbonates, polylactides, nylon and biodegradable plastics.
Plastic type 5 is recyclable and considered "widely recyclable" by the North American packaging recycling organisation How2Recycle. Plastic type 7 is hard to recycle and most factories do not accept it.
Plastic types 1, 2, 4 and 5 are considered the safest and most widely recyclable. Plastic types 3 and 6 are more difficult to recycle and may not be accepted by your local recycling centre.
You should check your municipality's or town's legislation and guidelines for recycling to find out what types of plastic they accept.
