Chloe Zhang
Plastic is everywhere, and recycling it is essential to prevent it from ending up in landfills and harming marine life. However, less than 10% of plastic waste generated globally has ever been recycled. One of the challenges to recycling plastic is the various types of plastic with distinct recycling instructions, identified by Resin Identification Codes (RICs) 1 through 7. Plastic Number 7, also known as Other, includes all plastic types that don't fit into categories 1 to 6. This catch-all category contains a diverse range of plastics, from recyclable to non-recyclable, biodegradable, and mixed resins. While some Number 7 plastics can be recycled, they often require specialized facilities, and many communities do not accept them in their curbside recycling programs. Understanding these codes and local recycling guidelines is crucial to becoming a better recycler and ensuring that our plastic waste is handled appropriately.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Number | 7 |
| Plastic Type | All other types of plastic that are not numbered 1-6 |
| Plastic Resin Code | Number 7 inside a triangle of arrows |
| Plastic Description | Mixed plastics, including recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics |
| Plastic Items | Baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, exterior lighting fixtures, nylon, polycarbonate, melamine, Lego blocks, computer keyboards, takeaway containers, eyewear, CDs, plastic housing for electrical objects, plastic used for 3D printing |
| Plastic Recycling | Not accepted in standard recycling bins, requires specialized handling |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic Number 7 includes a wide range of plastics, from recyclable to non-recyclable
- Plastic resins are identified by numbers 1-7, each with unique recycling methods
- Plastic Number 7 is a catch-all category for plastics outside of 1-6
- Plastic Number 7 items are often hard to recycle and require specialised facilities
- Plastic Number 7 items should be reused or repaired to reduce waste
Plastic Number 7 includes a wide range of plastics, from recyclable to non-recyclable
Plastic Number 7 is a complex and diverse category that includes all plastic types except for numbers 1 to 6. This catch-all category covers any plastic that does not fit into the first six categories, which can include a wide range of plastics with various characteristics, from recyclable to non-recyclable and biodegradable. Some common plastic types that fall under this category include PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, and PVC.
Products stamped with a 7 often contain multiple types of plastics or other hard-to-recycle materials. As a result, Plastic Number 7 items can be challenging to recycle. They often cannot be recycled in standard curbside recycling bins and may require specialist recyclers. However, it is still responsible to send Plastic Number 7 waste for recycling, as it will be checked, sorted, and recycled where possible.
The wide range of plastics under Plastic Number 7 includes polycarbonates, polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, melamine, and nylon. Some everyday items made from these plastics include baby bottles, CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and computer keyboards.
The difficulty in recycling Plastic Number 7 items lies not only in the variety of plastic types but also in the potential presence of biodegradable plastics. For example, PLA, a type of biodegradable plastic commonly used in food packaging, cannot be recycled with other plastics and requires industrial composting operations.
While recycling Plastic Number 7 items can be tricky, it is important to remember that these items can often be repaired or reused, reducing the need for recycling and helping to minimize waste.
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Plastic resins are identified by numbers 1-7, each with unique recycling methods
Plastic resins are identified by the numbers 1-7, which are known as resin identification codes (RICs). Each number corresponds to a different type of plastic, indicating which of the seven types of plastic resins was used to create a product. These codes were originally devised in 1988 by The Society of the Plastics Industry (now the Plastics Industry Association) to help consumers identify if and how easily a product can be recycled.
Type 1 plastics, often stamped with 'PET' or 'PETE', can be recycled. They are commonly used for soda bottles, water bottles, cooking oil containers, peanut butter jars, and other food containers. Type 2 plastics, or 'HDPE' plastics, are also extremely common and can be recycled. They are used for milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, and cleaning product containers.
Type 3 plastics, or 'PVC', are soft and flexible plastics used for a wide range of household products, such as plastic tubing, kids' toys, plastic trays, and furniture. However, they cannot be recycled through standard municipal recycling collections. Type 4 plastics, or 'LDPE', are flexible, odourless, and thermoplastic. They are commonly used for plastic wrappings, grocery bags, and juice containers. LDPE products can sometimes be recycled.
Type 5 plastics are labelled 'PP' and are used to make food containers for products like yoghurt, sour cream, and margarine. They are also used for straws, rope, carpet, and bottle caps. PP products can sometimes be recycled. Type 6 plastics are labelled 'PS' and are used to make disposable coffee cups, packing peanuts, coolers, and to-go food containers. PS products can sometimes be recycled.
Type 7 plastics are a catch-all category for all types of plastics that do not fit into the first six categories. They include a wide range of plastics, some of which are recyclable, while others are non-recyclable or biodegradable. Type 7 plastics are often made of multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle plastics, making them more challenging to process. Everyday items made from type 7 plastics include baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures.
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Plastic Number 7 is a catch-all category for plastics outside of 1-6
Plastic Number 7 is a catch-all category for plastics outside of numbers 1 through 6. It includes all plastic types except for the first six categories, namely PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, and PVC. This category was established in the 1980s, and since then, innovations and developments in plastics have made it an extensive and diverse group.
The number 7 category includes a wide range of plastics with varying characteristics. It comprises recyclable, non-recyclable, mixed plastics, and biodegradable plastics. Some common plastics in this group include polycarbonates, polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, melamine, and nylon. The list of plastics in this category is extensive due to the variety of plastics and their applications.
Some everyday items made from number 7 plastics include baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures. Other recognisable items are Lego blocks, computer keyboards, takeaway containers, and plastic housing for electrical objects.
The recycling protocols for number 7 plastics are not standardised due to their diverse nature. While some number 7 plastics can be recycled, they often cannot be recycled in standard curbside recycling bins and may require specialist recyclers. It is recommended to reuse or repair items made from number 7 plastics instead of discarding them.
Number 7 plastics, especially polycarbonates, have raised concerns due to the potential for chemical leaching of bisphenol A (BPA) into food or drink products. This has led to a decrease in the use of polycarbonates in food storage and items that come into contact with food.
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Plastic Number 7 items are often hard to recycle and require specialised facilities
Plastic Number 7 is a complex group that includes all plastic types except for numbers 1 to 6. It is a catch-all category for any plastic that does not fit into the first six categories. This includes recyclable, non-recyclable, and biodegradable plastics, as well as multi-layer or mixed resin types. Some common items made from Number 7 plastics include baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures. Other common plastics in this group include nylon, polycarbonate, and melamine.
As a diverse category, Plastic Number 7 items are often hard to recycle and require specialised facilities. They cannot be recycled in standard curbside recycling bins and must be processed at modern, high-rate composting facilities. This is because the plastics in this category have diverse characteristics and require different methods or technologies for recycling. For example, compostable resins, which are plant-based and will degrade under certain conditions, are often included in Plastic Number 7. However, they require specific conditions to degrade, which are not typically found in landfills or the natural environment.
The difficulty in recycling Plastic Number 7 items is further compounded by the fact that they are often made of multiple types of plastic or other hard-to-recycle materials. This makes it essential to determine which resins and plastics the local community recycles before attempting to recycle these items. Mixing Number 7 plastics with other recyclable materials can contaminate an entire batch, leading to increased costs for recycling processors.
To improve the recyclability of Plastic Number 7 items, individuals can take several steps. Firstly, it is important to check local guidelines and only recycle items that are accepted by the local community. Secondly, repairing or reusing these items can extend their lifespan and reduce the need for recycling. Finally, when possible, choosing products that can be easily recycled in your area is a more sustainable option than opting for single-use plastics that may end up in landfills or harm marine life.
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Plastic Number 7 items should be reused or repaired to reduce waste
Plastic Number 7 is a category of plastics that includes all plastic types except for numbers 1 to 6. This category is a catch-all for plastics that do not fit into the other six categories, and as such, it includes a wide range of plastics with many different characteristics. Some common items made from Plastic Number 7 include baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures. This diverse group of plastics can be challenging to recycle, and they often require specialized handling. Therefore, to reduce waste, it is essential to reuse and repair Plastic Number 7 items whenever possible.
One way to reduce waste is to maintain and repair plastic products so that they last longer and do not need to be replaced as frequently. This can be done by taking broken items to a repair cafe, where experts can fix them. If an item cannot be repaired, instead of discarding it, consider selling or donating it so that others can reuse it. Buying second-hand or used plastic items is also an excellent way to reduce waste and give new life to old products.
Another way to reduce waste is to choose reusable alternatives to single-use plastic items. For example, instead of using disposable containers for lunch, opt for reusable containers. Similarly, bring a reusable water bottle or thermos instead of buying disposable bottles or cartons. When shopping, always pack a reusable bag, and avoid individually packaged goods and plastic utensils. Compostable plastics should also be composted instead of recycled, so consider composting food waste to reduce the need for plastic garbage bags.
In addition to reusing and repairing, it is essential to understand the recycling guidelines for Plastic Number 7 in your area. While these plastics may not be accepted in your curbside recycling bin, there may be specialized recyclers that can handle them. Some municipalities have waste bans that prohibit the disposal of certain plastic items in trash bins, so check with your local government or recycling company to learn about proper disposal and recycling methods. By reusing, repairing, and recycling Plastic Number 7 items responsibly, we can significantly reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic number 7 is a category of plastics that includes all plastic types except for numbers 1 to 6. It is a catch-all category for plastics that do not fit into the first six categories.
Plastic number 7 is a diverse category that includes many different types of plastics, such as recyclable, non-recyclable, mixed plastics, and
Some everyday items made from plastic number 7 include baby bottles, plastic CDs, eyeglasses, car parts, and exterior lighting fixtures.
Plastic number 7 can be identified by the chasing arrows with a number 7 inside, known as the resin code or plastic resin identification code.
Plastic number 7 cannot be recycled in most curbside recycling bins. However, it may be possible to recycle them through specialized facilities or programs. It is important to check with local guidelines and recycling providers to determine the specific rules and capabilities for recycling plastic number 7.
