Chloe Zhang
Plastic is one of the most complicated materials to recycle, and it can be difficult to know what types can be disposed of and in which ways. The plastic resin code or plastic by numbers is a good place to start learning the types of plastic. There are seven groups of plastics in the coding system, with plastic number 7 used when a plastic does not fit into any of the numbers 1 through 6. This catch-all category includes a wide range of plastics with many different characteristics, including recyclable, non-recyclable, mixed plastics, and biodegradable plastics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Identification | A number 7 inside a triangle of arrows |
| Type of Plastic | All types of plastic that are not numbers 1-6 |
| Examples of Plastic | Polycarbonate, polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, melamine, nylon |
| Items Made From Number 7 Plastics | Baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, exterior lighting fixtures, Lego blocks, computer keyboards, takeaway containers, plastic housing for electrical objects, plastic used for 3D printing |
| Recyclability | Recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics. Cannot be recycled in standard curbside recycling bins. |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic #7 is a catch-all category for all types of plastics other than numbers 1-6
- Plastic #7 includes recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics
- Plastic #7 is used for baby bottles, CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and more
- Plastic #7 is difficult to recycle and is almost always excluded
- Plastic #7 is a resin code, not a recycling code
Plastic #7 is a catch-all category for all types of plastics other than numbers 1-6
Plastic #7 is a catch-all category for all types of plastics other than numbers 1 through 6. It includes recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics, as well as multi-layer or mixed resin types. This category was created in the 1980s when the resin code was established. Since then, innovations and developments in plastics have made this an extensive and diverse group.
The plastic resin code or plastic by numbers is a good place to start learning about the different types of plastic. There are seven groups of plastics in the coding system. Plastic #7 is used when a plastic does not fit into any of the numbers 1 through 6. This means that it is not specific to one type of plastic but rather encompasses a wide range of plastics with varying characteristics.
Some common items made from plastic #7 include baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures. It also includes plastics that you might find more challenging to pronounce, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. Due to the diverse nature of this category, answering questions about what plastic #7 is used for or whether it can be recycled can be challenging.
In general, plastic #7 cannot be recycled in standard curbside recycling bins. It is considered a contaminant in bins for plastics #1 through #6. However, this does not mean that all plastic #7 cannot be recycled at all. It is important to research and understand your local community's legislation and rules for recycling to determine which plastics can be recycled in your area.
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Plastic #7 includes recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics
Plastic #7 is a complex group that includes recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics. It is a catch-all category for all plastic types that do not fit into the first six categories. This includes plastics with multiple layers or mixed resins.
Plastic #7 plastics are used in a wide range of everyday items, such as baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures. Some common plastics in this group include nylon, polycarbonate, melamine, and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene.
Determining whether a plastic #7 item can be recycled is not straightforward. While some #7 plastics are recyclable, they often cannot be recycled in standard curbside recycling bins and require specialized handling. It is important to check with your local municipality's recycling guidelines to determine which types of plastic they accept.
To make plastics more recyclable, it is recommended to reuse or repair items made from plastic #7 instead of throwing them away. If you are unsure how to repair an item, you can take it to a repair cafe, where experts can fix it for you.
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Plastic #7 is used for baby bottles, CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and more
Plastic #7 is a catch-all category for all types of plastics that do not fit into the first six categories. This includes plastics that are recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable, as well as those that are multi-layered or mixed resin types. As a result, the #7 category has become extremely diverse and extensive, encompassing a wide range of plastic types and characteristics.
Plastic #7 is used to make a variety of everyday products, including baby bottles, sippy cups, CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures. It is also commonly used for plastic housing for electrical objects and 3D printing. Some of the more recognisable types of plastic in this category include nylon, polycarbonate, melamine, and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
It is important to note that, despite the wide range of products made from #7 plastic, recycling options for this material are limited. #7 plastic cannot be recycled in most curbside recycling bins and requires specialised handling. Therefore, it is recommended to reuse or repair items made from this plastic to reduce waste.
The recycling symbol for #7 plastic is the chasing arrows triangle with a number 7 inside. This symbol has been modified recently to further distinguish it from recycling symbols, as the presence of a resin code does not necessarily indicate that an item can be recycled.
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Plastic #7 is difficult to recycle and is almost always excluded
Plastic #7 is a complex group that includes all plastic types except for numbers 1 to 6. It is a catch-all category for various plastics with many different characteristics, including recyclable, non-recyclable, mixed plastics, and biodegradable plastics. This diversity makes it challenging to recycle effectively, and it is often excluded from standard recycling processes.
The number 7 plastic category includes everyday items such as baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures. It also encompasses common plastics like nylon, polycarbonate, and melamine, as well as compounds like Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. The wide range of plastics in this category means that determining their recyclability can be difficult.
One of the main challenges with recycling plastic #7 is that it often requires specialized handling. These plastics cannot be recycled in most curbside recycling bins and need to be processed at modern, high-rate composting facilities. As a result, even if they are made from recyclable materials, individuals might not have access to the necessary recyclers. This limitation highlights the importance of reusing or repairing items made from plastic #7 instead of discarding them.
The recycling process for plastic #7 is further complicated by the fact that each plastic type within this category recycles using a different method or technology. This specificity means that mixing different types of plastic #7 can contaminate an entire recycling batch. Therefore, it is crucial to separate and properly identify the different resins within this category before attempting to recycle them.
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Plastic #7 is a resin code, not a recycling code
The resin code was established in the 1980s, and at the time, it made sense to have a category for plastics that did not fit into the other groups. However, in the decades since, innovations and developments in plastics have made this category increasingly diverse and extensive. Today, it can be challenging to recycle Plastic #7 as it is not one specific type, making it difficult to source separate. Most of these plastics cannot be recycled in your curbside recycling bin and require specialised facilities.
The chasing arrows symbol, now with a solid line, is meant to distinguish resin codes from recycling symbols. However, people often assume that the presence of the chasing arrows symbol indicates recyclability, which is not always the case. It is important to determine which resins your community recycles and to check if a product can be recycled where you live before disposing of it in a recycling bin.
While Plastic #7 may be challenging to recycle, it is important to remember that these items can often be reused or repaired instead of being thrown out. Repair cafes, for example, offer a service to fix old items, and second-hand or hired items can be purchased when a replacement is needed. By extending the lifespan of these products, we can reduce waste and our environmental impact.
In summary, Plastic #7 is a resin code that identifies the type of plastic rather than its recyclability. It encompasses a wide range of plastic types, and while recycling may be difficult, there are alternative options to disposal, such as repair and reuse.
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Frequently asked questions
Number 7 plastic is a category that includes all plastic types that do not fit into categories 1 through 6. It includes recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics, as well as multi-layer and mixed resin types.
Some everyday items made from number 7 plastic include baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures.
Number 7 plastic can be identified by the chasing arrows with a number 7 inside, usually enclosed in a triangle.
Number 7 plastic is generally not accepted by recyclers and cannot be recycled in most curbside recycling bins. However, some modern, high-rate composting facilities can process number 7 compostable plastic.
