Maya Ellison
Plastic is a family of materials, each with different qualities, uses, and recycling avenues. The Society of the Plastics Industry implemented the Resin Identification Coding system in 1988, which assigns a designated number to different types of plastic. The numbers 1 to 7 are used to help identify the type of plastic and determine the appropriate disposal route. For example, PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) is a lightweight plastic widely used for packaging beverages and food. It is recyclable and has the number 1 as its symbol. However, the presence of these symbols does not always indicate recyclability, and some types of plastic are more difficult to recycle than others.
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What You'll Learn
The chasing arrows symbol does not indicate recyclability
The chasing arrows symbol, also known as the recycling symbol, is one of the most recognised logos in the world. However, it does not always indicate recyclability. The number inside the triangle identifies the type of plastic and helps determine the proper disposal or recycling method. For example, PETG (Symbol 1) and HDPE (Symbol 2) are widely accepted by curbside recycling programs and are often reused in packaging, furniture, and household products. On the other hand, LDPE (Symbol 4) is difficult to recycle as it frequently jams or damages recycling equipment.
The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) implemented the Resin Identification Coding system in 1988, which assigns a designated number to indicate the type of plastic. The chasing arrows symbol was initially intended to indicate that the container was potentially recyclable. However, environmentalists opposed the use of the symbol on packages as they believed it misled consumers into thinking that items were recyclable when they were not.
In 2021, California became the first state to restrict the use of the chasing arrows symbol, prohibiting its use on products unless specific criteria were met. Other states, such as Oregon and New York, have also taken steps to increase transparency around recycling and hold manufacturers responsible for their waste. These efforts aim to address the issue of "greenwashing," where corporations mislead customers about the recyclability of their products.
It is important to note that the recyclability of plastic items depends on various factors, including the capabilities of local recycling facilities and the specific guidelines and regulations they follow. While the chasing arrows symbol provides information about the type of plastic, it does not always guarantee that an item is recyclable.
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Numbers 1-7 help identify the type of plastic
Plastic recycling symbols are important as they provide information about the used resin and recyclability of the item. The numbers inside the "chasing arrows" triangle are there to help identify the type of plastic used for the product. These symbols were introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988 to indicate what type of plastic was used in the manufacturing of a product.
Number 1 plastic, also known as PET, PETE, or PETG, is one of the most commonly used plastics in consumer products and is found in most water and beverage bottles, food jars, containers, salad dressing and oil bottles, and clothing fiber. It is easily recyclable and is often part of curbside recycling programs. Number 2 plastic, or HDPE, is one of the most commonly used plastics in the United States and is used for plastic containers and pipes. It is also widely accepted by curbside recycling programs.
Number 3 plastic, or PVC, is dubbed the "poison plastic" due to the toxins it can leach throughout its life cycle. Products made with PVC are not recyclable and should be avoided, especially for food and children's use. Number 4 plastic, or LDPE, is used for soft plastics such as cling film, plastic dry cleaner covers, and carry bags. While LDPE is difficult to recycle, it can be recycled through specialized programs or drop-off boxes at retail stores.
Number 5 plastic, or PP, stands for polypropylene, a durable, strong, and lightweight plastic used in furniture, luggage, toys, and car parts. It is one of the safer types of plastic and is increasingly accepted in curbside recycling programs. Number 6 plastic, or PS, is polystyrene, commonly used in toys, packing materials, refrigerator trays, cosmetic bags, and vending cups. While it is not widely accepted in curbside recycling, it can be recycled into new products such as egg cartons and takeout containers.
Number 7 plastic is a miscellaneous category for plastics that don't fit into the other six categories, including "other plastics" like acrylic, polycarbonate, fiberglass, and nylon. Products with the number 7 symbol are often made of multiple plastic types that are difficult to recycle. These plastics should be avoided, especially for children's food, due to the potential for chemical leaching.
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common plastic for single-use bottles
Plastic is a broad term for a family of materials, each with distinct qualities, uses, and recycling methods. To help consumers identify the type of plastic used in a product, manufacturers use symbols, usually moulded on the bottom of the product. These symbols are part of the Resin Identification Coding System, which was implemented by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988.
Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET, is one of the most widely used plastics for beverage packaging. It is a polyester plastic with excellent transparency, lightweight, gas and water barrier properties, impact strength, UV resistance, and unbreakability. These qualities make PET bottles an attractive alternative to glass bottles, aluminium cans, paperboard cartons, and other plastics. PET is also recyclable and can be reused to make containers, carpets, and furniture.
In 2021, PET packaging accounted for 44.7% of single-serve beverage packaging in the US, and 12% of global solid waste. PET bottles have a lower carbon footprint in production and transportation compared to glass bottles. They are also easily recyclable, making them an environmentally friendly choice. However, it's important to note that the recycling rate for plastic is still low, with only 9% of plastic produced worldwide since the 1950s being recycled.
PET is identified by the number "1" symbol and the acronyms PET, PETE, PETG, or PET-G. This symbol is often found on products made from PET, such as soft drink bottles, mineral water containers, fruit juice containers, and cooking oil containers. Other common plastics and their symbols include HDPE (number "2"), PVC (number "3"), LDPE (number "4"), PP (number "5"), polystyrene (number "6"), and "OTHER" or number "7", which includes plastics like polycarbonate, nylon, and fiberglass.
While the symbols on plastic products provide useful information about the type of plastic used, it's important to note that they do not guarantee recyclability. The recycling process depends on various factors, including the capabilities of local recycling facilities and the specific guidelines and regulations they follow.
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HDPE is one of the most easily recycled plastics
Plastic products are stamped with a resin code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The number inside the triangle is what indicates the type of plastic and helps determine the proper disposal or recycling method.
HDPE, or high-density polyethylene, is one of the most easily recycled plastics. It is the second most common plastic and is used to make everything from shampoo bottles to drink containers. HDPE is accepted at most recycling centres worldwide and is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. However, one challenge with HDPE is that it often gets contaminated, so clean and dirty HDPE must be kept separate as they are recycled differently.
The recycling process for HDPE bottles is straightforward, but the film must go through a different process as it is liable to get caught in the teeth of recycling machines. The film is first cut into small pieces, which are then formed into pellets. These pellets can be turned into a variety of things and are often combined with a percentage of virgin HDPE to improve strength and reliability.
HDPE is widely reused in packaging, furniture, and household products. It is also one of the safer types of plastic, making it ideal for ketchup and medicine bottles.
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'Other' plastics are marked with the number 7
Plastic products are often stamped with a resin code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The number 7 symbol is a miscellaneous category for all the plastics that didn't fit into the other six categories. This includes plastics made from multiple types of plastic that are difficult to recycle.
The category includes recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics, as well as multi-layer or mixed resin types of plastics. Common items made from plastic number 7 include baby bottles, plastic CDs, DVDs, sunglasses, car parts, or exterior lighting fixtures. Some common plastics you might recognize from this group are nylon, polycarbonate, melamine, and fiberglass.
Polycarbonate is an excellent alternative to glass, as it has a natural UV filter and is very pliable at room temperature, making it easy to work with for manufacturers. However, polycarbonate has been associated with bisphenol A (BPA), which can be harmful to human health. Other plastics like polycarbonate often contain BPA and LEXAN, which can be very harmful to human health if improperly disposed of. For this reason, these products are not accepted curbside but are sometimes accepted by drop-off centers or mail-in programs.
Even if they are made from recyclable plastic, some number 7 plastics may not be accepted by your local recycler. It is good to remember to reuse or repair these items instead of throwing them out.
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Frequently asked questions
The number inside the recycling symbol, usually imprinted on the bottom of plastic products, is called a "resin identification code". The numbers 1 to 7 help us identify the type of plastic the product is made from.
The "chasing arrows" symbol on plastic does not necessarily mean the product is recyclable. The number inside the triangle is there to help identify the type of plastic used for the product and determine the appropriate disposal route.
PET or PETE (No. 1) is the most common plastic for single-use bottled beverages. It is lightweight and easy to recycle. HDPE (No. 2) is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is widely accepted. LDPE (No. 4) is used for soft plastics such as cling film and plastic bags, but it is difficult to recycle. PP (No. 5) is used for items like ketchup bottles and is increasingly accepted in recycling programs.
