Omar Khalid
Plastic recycling is a complex process. The numbers on plastic items are resin identification codes, indicating the type of plastic the material is made from. They are key to understanding how to recycle an item. Plastics with codes #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE) are the most commonly recycled plastics. Codes #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 are tougher to recycle and are not universally accepted by local recycling programs. It is important to research your town's legislation and rules for recycling to understand what can and cannot be recycled.
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What You'll Learn
Recycling symbols and their meanings
The presence of a recycling symbol on a plastic product does not necessarily indicate that the product is recyclable or recycled. The number enclosed within the recycling symbol is a resin identification code that tells you what kind of plastic the material is made of. These codes were designed by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) to help provide a standard and uniform method to identify different types of plastics. The recycling codes are also used to distinguish products made with different types of plastics, which are processed and recycled separately.
Recyclable plastics are labeled with numbers 1-7 to tell workers what kind of plastic it is and how it should be processed. They also help recycling collectors determine what items they can accept and which ones should be trashed. The numbers are valuable consumer information because they spell out the likelihood of your recycling ending up in a landfill.
- PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate): This is the most common plastic for single-use bottled beverages because it is inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to recycle. It is used in the production of plastic water and soft drink bottles, salad dressing containers, and plastic peanut butter jars. It can be recycled into fiber fill for sleeping bags, carpet fibers, and rope.
- HDPE (high-density polyethylene): This plastic is accepted worldwide because it is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. It is used in the production of milk jugs, butter tubs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, and motor oil bottles. It can be recycled into flower pots, trash cans, traffic barrier cones, and detergent bottles.
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride): This plastic is best known for its use in pipes but is also used in cooking oil and shampoo bottles, medical tubing, wire jacketing, and window cleaner spray bottles.
- LDPE (low-density polyethylene): This is a flexible plastic with many applications. It is used in squeezable condiment bottles and toys but is mostly used in plastic films like shrink wrap and bags.
- PP: This plastic is used in the production of most yogurt containers, some pancake syrup bottles, and bottle caps. It can be recycled into plastic lumber, bins, car battery cases, brooms, and ice scrapers.
- PS: This plastic is used in the production of grocery bags, bread bags, margarine tubs, clothing, and carpets. It can be recycled into new grocery bags.
- Other: This is a miscellaneous category for everything that didn't fit into the previous six categories. This includes polycarbonates (PC), multi-resin, and mixed plastic items. Examples are electronic equipment, glasses frames, and plastic brick toys.
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Plastic types and their numbers
Plastic recycling is a complex process. The numbers 1–7 stamped on plastic items are resin identification codes, also known as plastic recycling codes, that tell you what kind of plastic the material is made of. They are used to help recycling plants sort materials. The recycling symbol found on plastic products does not indicate that a product is necessarily recyclable or recycled.
Plastic Type 1: PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
This is the most common plastic for single-use bottled beverages because it is inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to recycle. It is used in the production of plastic water and soft drink bottles, salad dressing containers, and plastic peanut butter jars. It can be recycled into fiber fill for sleeping bags, carpet fibres, and rope.
Plastic Type 2: HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
HDPE is accepted worldwide because it is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. It is used in the production of milk jugs, butter tubs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, and motor oil bottles. It can be recycled into flower pots, trash cans, traffic barrier cones, and detergent bottles.
Plastic Type 3: PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
PVC is best known for its use in pipes but is also found in cooking oil and shampoo bottles, medical tubing, wire jacketing, and window cleaner spray bottles.
Plastic Type 4
This plastic is used in the production of grocery bags, bread bags, shrink wrap, margarine tubs, clothing, and carpet. It can be recycled into new grocery bags.
Plastic Type 5
This plastic is used in the production of shampoo bottles, clear food packaging, cooking oil bottles, medical equipment, and piping. It can be recycled into drainage and irrigation pipes.
Plastic Type 6
This plastic is used in the production of most yogurt containers, some pancake syrup bottles, and bottle caps. It can be recycled into plastic lumber, bins, car battery cases, brooms, and ice scrapers.
Plastic Type 7
This is a miscellaneous category for everything that didn't fit into the previous six categories. It includes polycarbonates (PC), which are difficult to recycle conventionally.
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How to recycle LDPE
LDPE, or low-density polyethylene, is a type of plastic used in a wide range of applications. It is durable, flexible, and resistant to chemicals. However, LDPE is not biodegradable and can only be recycled a few times before it needs to be disposed of in a landfill. Despite this, recycling LDPE is crucial for reducing industrial waste and environmental pollution.
The process of recycling LDPE differs from that of other plastics. LDPE must be cleaned and de-labeled before it can be recycled. De-labeling involves removing any stickers or labels by soaking the plastic in warm water and then peeling off the label. After de-labeling, LDPE must be sorted by type. The most common method of LDPE recycling is through commercial and industrial programs. Some businesses may also recycle LDPE through in-house systems designed for specific materials, but the best way is to contact a commercial and industrial recycling company.
There are several benefits to recycling LDPE. It helps to reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect the environment by lowering pollution levels. Recycling LDPE also saves energy and creates jobs in the recycling industry.
However, there are challenges to recycling LDPE. Firstly, there is a lack of recycling infrastructure, and the process is more expensive than recycling other types of plastic. Secondly, LDPE has limited recycling options, as it can only be recycled a few times before requiring disposal. Additionally, LDPE should not be recycled if it is contaminated with food or other substances, and it must be sorted by type beforehand.
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How to recycle HDPE
The numbers on plastic items are resin identification codes that tell you what kind of plastic the material is made of. The number 2 is assigned to High-Density Polyethylene or HDPE. HDPE is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted at most recycling centres worldwide. It is used to make everything from milk and shampoo bottles to pipes and wheelie bins.
HDPE is recyclable in all its forms, including bottles, bags, tanks, film, offcuts, and sheets. It is also one of the least recycled post-consumer plastics, with a rate of less than 1%. HDPE can be recycled by itself, but it can be stored with other plastic waste. It is important to recycle HDPE to protect the planet and prevent harmful chemicals from leaching into the ground, air, and water.
The general process to recycle HDPE involves sorting, cleaning, and contaminating HDPE products, while all other plastic types and any other materials are removed for processing elsewhere. After being sorted, the HDPE is melted and moulded into shape. It is then used to create new products, such as pipes, crates, sheeting, film, and non-food bottles.
Before placing HDPE in your recycling bin, check with your local authority or recycling centre to ensure they accept this plastic resin. Some recycling centres may have specific requirements for HDPE, such as separating the plastic film from other forms of HDPE.
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Recycling plastic locally
The numbers on plastic items indicate the type of plastic the material is made from. These numbers are resin identification codes, which help recycling plants sort materials. Plastics with the numbers 1 (PETE) and 2 (HDPE) are the most commonly recycled plastics and are accepted by most local recycling programs. HDPE is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted worldwide. It is used to make milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, butter tubs, motor oil bottles, and some shopping bags.
Plastics with the numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are tougher to recycle and are not always collected by local recycling programs. Number 3 plastic, or PVC, is used in pipes, cooking oil and shampoo bottles, medical tubing, wire jacketing, and window cleaner spray bottles. Number 4 plastic is used in grocery bags, which should not be put into recycling bins as they can get tangled in the equipment at recycling facilities. These bags can be recycled at grocery stores. Number 7 plastic is a miscellaneous category, including items such as oven-baking bags and large water cooler jugs.
To recycle plastic locally, you can start by checking your local recycling guidelines, as different cities and towns have different rules. You can usually find this information on your local government website. Some materials that can be recycled include plastic bags, films, and flexible packaging, which can be dropped off at stores participating in the How2Recycle program. Before bringing plastic to be recycled, it is important to clean and dry the items to ensure they can be recycled effectively without contaminating other materials. You can also check if your local area has a Plastic Film Recycling Directory, which can provide information on how to recycle plastic film properly. Additionally, some grocery stores collect plastic bags for proper recycling.
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Frequently asked questions
The numbers 1-7 inside the recycling symbol are plastic resin identification codes, which tell you what kind of plastic the material is made of.
Plastics with the codes #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) are the most commonly recycled plastics.
Plastic #1, or PETE, is used for single-use bottled beverages, peanut butter jars, plastic soda and water bottles, microwavable food trays, and salad dressing bottles.
Plastic #2, or HDPE, is used for milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, butter tubs, motor oil bottles, and some shopping bags.
Plastic #7 is a miscellaneous category for everything that didn't fit into the previous categories. This includes oven-baking bags and large 3-5-gallon jugs used to refill office water coolers.
