Maya Ellison
The numbers on plastic products are resin identification codes (RIC) that indicate the type of plastic the material is made of. The RIC was introduced in the 1980s and is a number found inside the chasing arrows recycling symbol. The numbers range from 1 to 7 and are used to classify the different types of plastics. Plastics with a 1 or 2 are the most commonly recycled plastics and can be tossed into standard recycling bins. Plastics with a 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 are harder to recycle and are not always accepted by local recycling programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number 1 plastics | PETE or PET, one of the most widely recycled plastics in the world, used in a lot of food containers |
| Number 2 plastics | HDPE, one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle, accepted worldwide |
| Number 3 plastics | PVC, durable plastic that is not easily impacted by sunlight, water, or other harsh conditions, but has been known to leach chemicals over time |
| Number 4 plastics | LDPE, a soft flexible plastic that is often used for bags |
| Number 5 plastics | PP, polypropylene, used in margarine and yogurt containers, potato chip bags, cereal bags, etc., considered safe for reuse but not always accepted by recyclers |
| Number 6 plastics | Polystyrene, used for disposable styrofoam drinking cups, takeout containers, packing peanuts, etc., not generally recyclable and accounts for about 35% of US landfill material |
| Number 7 plastics | Any type of plastic that doesn’t fit into the first six categories, often made from multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle plastics like polycarbonates |
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What You'll Learn
- The numbers indicate the type of resin used to produce the plastic
- Plastics #1 and #2 are the most commonly recycled plastics
- Some plastics are hard to recycle, like Styrofoam and shrink wrap
- Polypropylene is recyclable but not widely accepted by recyclers
- Recycled plastics can be used to produce new plastics
The numbers indicate the type of resin used to produce the plastic
The numbers on plastic products are not an indication of their recyclability. Instead, they refer to the type of resin used to produce the plastic, also known as the Resin Identification Code (RIC). The RIC was introduced in the 1980s to inform manufacturers of the type of plastic in a product.
The numbers range from 1 to 7, with each number indicating a different type of resin. Numbers 1 and 2 plastics, or PETE and HDPE respectively, are the most commonly recycled plastics. HDPE, for example, can be recycled up to 10 times and is accepted worldwide. It is also one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. Products made from these plastics can be tossed into standard recycling bins.
However, plastics numbered 3 to 7 are generally tougher to recycle and are not always collected by local recycling programs. For instance, plastic #7 is particularly challenging to recycle and is often excluded by recycling centers. These plastics are often made from multiple types of plastic or from resins like polycarbonates (PC) that are difficult to recycle.
Polypropylene (PP) plastic, which is used in containers for products like margarine and yogurt, is another example of a plastic that is recyclable but not widely accepted by recyclers.
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Plastics #1 and #2 are the most commonly recycled plastics
The numbers on plastic products are resin identification codes, which indicate what type of plastic the material is made from. Plastics #1 and #2 are the most commonly recycled plastics. These plastics are also the most common types of plastic containers and the most easily recyclable. They are also the most likely to have a California Redemption Value (CRV) associated with them.
#1 plastic, or PET/PETE, is used to make bottles for soda, water, and other drinks. It is also used for cooking oil containers, plastic peanut butter jars, and containers for other popular food items. #2 plastic, or HDPE, is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted worldwide. It is frequently used for milk jugs and can be recycled into products such as detergent and shampoo bottles. Both #1 and #2 plastics may be tossed into standard recycling bins, although it is always good to check with your local recycling program to see which types of plastics it accepts.
It is important to note that not all plastic products can be recycled, even if they have a resin code. For example, plastic bags should not be put into recycling bins as they can get tangled in the equipment at recycling facilities. Additionally, it is important to keep plastic containers clean, as recycled goods are a marketplace, and any product that is contaminated may sell for less or not at all.
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Some plastics are hard to recycle, like Styrofoam and shrink wrap
Plastic products are stamped with numbers to indicate their recyclability. Products stamped with a 7 are often made from multiple plastic types or from plastics that are hard to recycle.
Styrofoam, the trademarked name for polystyrene foam, is one such plastic that is hard to recycle. It is used in construction and to package food and drinks due to its excellent insulating abilities. It is lightweight and bulky, comprising more than 90% air, which makes it hard to collect and transport for recycling. Styrofoam is also one of the most common types of ocean pollution, where it fragments into small pieces and is consumed by marine life. Many curbside recycling programs do not accept Styrofoam, but there are specialized recycling services that do.
Another plastic that is hard to recycle is shrink wrap. It is a soft plastic that tends to jam machinery at materials recovery facilities, causing delays and breakdowns. However, it is a highly recyclable material, and large volumes of it can be baled up and picked up by a waste and recycling provider.
Overall, while some plastics like Styrofoam and shrink wrap are hard to recycle, there are ways to do so through specialized services and providers.
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Polypropylene is recyclable but not widely accepted by recyclers
The numbers imprinted on plastic items are resin identification codes, indicating the type of plastic the material is made of. Plastics with the codes #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE) are the most commonly recycled plastics.
Polypropylene, often shortened to PP, is represented by the number 5 symbol by the Association of Plastics Recyclers identification. It is a thermoplastic polymer widely used in many applications and industries, including automotive, medical, and retail. PP is recyclable, but only about 1% of it is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills, slowly decomposing and potentially releasing hazardous fumes and chemicals.
The low recycling rate of PP is due to several challenges. Firstly, PP is sensitive to high heat, often losing significant chemical integrity, strength, and flexibility during the extrusion process of mechanical recycling. Recycled PP often has inferior properties compared to virgin PP due to contamination or degradation during the recycling process. The high regulatory standards for food-safe plastic make recycled PP unsuitable for most market applications.
Additionally, PP products come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, and they may contain other non-PP materials that contaminate the recycling stream. This diversity makes it challenging for Material Sorting Facilities (MRFs) to accept and sort PP properly. The extensive testing and additives required for food-grade certification also drive up costs, and companies are often unwilling to pay the high premium associated with PP recycling.
While PP recycling faces challenges, there are ongoing innovations in the field. Solvent dissolution, for example, is a technique that utilizes supercritical butane to selectively remove contaminants from PP. Purecycle, an American start-up, is leveraging this technology to establish commercial-scale PP recycling plants in the US.
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Recycled plastics can be used to produce new plastics
The numbers on recyclable plastics are resin identification codes, indicating the type of plastic the material is made of. There are seven types of plastic in use globally, and they differ in size, colour, usage, and disposal. The recycling symbol on a plastic product does not necessarily indicate that it can be recycled or has been recycled.
Plastics with the codes #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE) are the most commonly recycled types. HDPE is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted at most recycling centres worldwide. It is frequently used for shampoo bottles, cosmetic caps, and packaging films. PET is the most widely recycled plastic globally and is used as a construction material in third-world countries.
Plastics #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 are generally harder to recycle and are not as widely accepted in local recycling programs. Type #7 plastics are often made from multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle materials like Styrofoam. Type #4 plastics, such as plastic bags, can cause tangles in recycling equipment and are usually collected separately by grocery stores.
Despite the challenges, recycling is still a viable process, and recycled plastics can be used to produce new plastic products. This reduces the need for virgin polymers, which directly lowers oil usage and emissions of greenhouse gases associated with the production of new polymers. Recycled plastics can be used to create a variety of new plastic goods, such as shampoo bottles, cosmetic caps, and packaging films.
In addition to traditional recycling methods, there are innovative ways to reuse plastic waste. For example, in some third-world countries, plastic bottles are filled with sand and cemented together to form walls for buildings. This method of construction reduces the need for other materials like wood or concrete, which also have environmental costs associated with their production. Overall, recycling plastic waste helps reduce the amount of waste in landfills and has a positive environmental impact by lowering oil usage and carbon dioxide emissions.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastics with the numbers 1 (PETE) and 2 (HDPE) are the most commonly recycled plastics. They can be tossed into standard recycling bins.
Plastic with the number 3 is harder to recycle and is not universally collected by local recycling programs.
Plastic with the number 4 is also tough to recycle and is not always collected by local recycling programs. Bags made of this type of plastic, such as grocery bags, shouldn't be put into recycling bins as they can get tangled in the equipment.
Plastic with the number 7 is very challenging to recycle and is almost always excluded by local recycling programs. Products with this number are often made of multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle plastics such as Styrofoam.
