Guide to Plastic Recycling Symbols

The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) introduced its resin identification coding
system in 1988 at the urging of recyclers around the country. A growing number of
communities were implementing recycling programs in an effort to decrease the volume of
waste subject to tipping fees at landfills. In some cases, these programs were driven by
state-level recycling mandates.
The SPI code was developed to meet recyclers needs while providing manufacturers a
consistent, uniform system that could apply nationwide. Because municipal recycling
programs traditionally targeted packaging - primarily containers the SPI coding system
offered a means of identifying the resin content of bottles and containers commonly found
in the residential waste stream. Recycling firms have varying standards for the plastics they
accept. Some firms may require that the plastics be sorted by type and separated from
other recyclables; some may specify that mixed plastics are acceptable if they are separated
from other recyclables; while others may accept all material mixed together. Not all types of
plastics are generally recycled, and recycling facilities may not be available in some areas.

Number 1 Plastics -- PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) Found In: Soft drink, water
and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and
vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays. Recycling: Pick up through most curbside
recycling programs. Recycled Into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling,
straps, (occasionally) new containers

PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive,
lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling
rates remain relatively low (around 20 percent), though the material is in high demand by
remanufacturers.
Number 2 Plastics -- HDPE (high density polyethylene) Found In: Milk jugs, juice bottles;
bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and
shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners Recycling: Pick
up through most curbside recycling programs, although some only allow those containers
with necks. Recycled Into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers,
floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing
HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of
leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.
Number 3 Plastics -- V (Vinyl) or PVC Found In: Window cleaner and detergent bottles,
shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical
equipment, siding, windows, piping Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic
lumber makers. Recycled Into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables,
speed bumps, mats
PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar
applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous
dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Never burn PVC,
because it releases toxins.
Number 4 Plastics -- LDPE (low density polyethylene) Found In: Squeezable bottles;
bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will
accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling. Recycled Into:
Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping
ties, floor tile
LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted
through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are
starting to accept it.
Number 5 Plastics -- PP (polypropylene) Found In: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles,
ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled
through some curbside programs. Recycled Into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms,
brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins,
pallets, trays
Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must
accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.
Number 6 Plastics -- PS (polystyrene) Found In: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays,
egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases Recycling: Number 6
plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs. Recycled Into: Insulation, light
switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly
known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential
toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely
across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't
accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.
Number 7 Plastics -- Miscellaneous Found In: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bulletproof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain
food containers, nylon Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled,
though some curbside programs now take them. Recycled Into: Plastic lumber, custommade products
A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into
number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable.
Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days,
after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.
Codes

Packaging
Applications
Plastic soft drink,
water, sports drink,
beer, mouthwash,
catsup and salad
dressing bottles.
Peanut butter, pickle,
jelly and jam jars.
Ovenable film and
ovenable prepared
food trays.

Descriptions

Properties

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE).

PET is clear, tough, and has good gas and
moisture barrier properties. Commonly
used in soft drink bottles and many
injection molded consumer product
containers. Other applications include
strapping and both food and non-food
containers. Cleaned, recycled PET flakes
and pellets are in great demand for
spinning fiber for carpet yarns, producing
fiberfill and geo-textiles. Nickname:
Polyester.

Clarity, strength,
toughness, barrier to
gas and moisture,
resistance to heat

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE

is used to make bottles for milk, juice,
water and laundry products. Unpigmented
bottles are translucent, have good barrier
properties and stiffness, and are well
suited to packaging products with a short
shelf life such as milk. Because HDPE has
good chemical resistance, it is used for
packaging many household and industrial
chemicals such as detergents and bleach.
Pigmented HDPE bottles have better
stress crack resistance than unpigmented
HDPE bottles.

Stiffness, strength,
Milk, water, juice,
Liquid laundry
toughness, resistance cosmetic, shampoo,
detergent, shampoo,
to chemicals and
dish and laundry
conditioner and motor
moisture, permeability detergent bottles;
oil bottles; pipe,
to gas, ease of
yogurt and margarine buckets, crates, flower
processing, and ease oftubs; cereal box liners; pots, garden edging,
forming.
grocery, trash and
film and sheet,
retail bags.
recycling bins, benches,
dog houses, plastic
lumber, floor tiles,
picnic tables, fencing.

Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC): In

Versatility, clarity, ease
addition to its stable physical properties, of blending, strength,
PVC has excellent chemical resistance,
toughness, resistance
good weatherability, flow characteristics to grease, oil and
and stable electrical properties. The
chemicals.
diverse slate of vinyl products can be
broadly divided into rigid and flexible
materials. Bottles and packaging sheet are
major rigid markets, but it is also widely
used in the construction market for such
applications as pipes and fittings, siding,
carpet backing and windows. Flexible vinyl
is used in wire and cable insulation, film
and sheet, floor coverings synthetic
leather products, coatings, blood bags,
medical tubing and many other

Clear food and nonfood packaging,

medical tubing, wire
and cable insulation,
film and sheet,
construction products
such as pipes, fittings,
siding, floor tiles,
carpet backing and
window frames..

Recycled Products
Fiber, tote bags,
clothing, film and
sheet, food and
beverage containers,
carpet, strapping,
fleece wear, luggage
and bottles.

Packaging, loose-leaf
binders, decking,
paneling, gutters, mud
flaps, film and sheet,
floor tiles and mats,
resilient flooring,
cassette trays,
electrical boxes, cables,
traffic cones, garden
hose, mobile home
skirting.

applications.
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE).Used
Ease of processing,
predominately in film applications due to strength, toughness,
its toughness, flexibility and relative
flexibility, ease of
transparency, making it popular for use in sealing, barrier to
applications where heat sealing is
moisture.
necessary. LDPE is also used to
manufacture some flexible lids and bottles
and it is used in wire and cable
applications

Dry cleaning, bread

and frozen food bags,
squeezable bottles,
e.g. honey, mustard.

Shipping envelopes,
garbage can liners,
floor tile, furniture, film
and sheet, compost
bins, paneling, trash
cans, landscape timber,
lumber

Polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene has

good chemical resistance, is strong, and
has a high melting point making it good
for hot-fill liquids. PP is found in flexible
and rigid packaging to fibers and large
molded parts for automotive and
consumer products.

Catsup bottles, yogurt

containers and
margarine tubs,
medicine bottles

Automobile battery
cases, signal lights,
battery cables, brooms,
brushes, ice scrapers,
oil funnels, bicycle
racks, rakes, bins,
pallets, sheeting, trays.

Strength, toughness,
resistance to heat,
chemicals, grease and
oil, versatile, barrier to
moisture.

Polystyrene (PS). Polystyrene is a

Versatility, insulation,
versatile plastic that can be rigid or
clarity, easily formed
foamed. General purpose polystyrene is
clear, hard and brittle. It has a relatively
low melting point. Typical applications
include protective packaging, containers,
lids, cups, bottles and trays.

Compact disc jackets, Thermometers, light

food service
switch plates, thermal
applications, grocery insulation, egg cartons,
store meat trays, egg vents, desk trays,
cartons, aspirin bottles,rulers, license plate
cups, plates, cutlery. frames, foam packing,
foam plates, cups,
utensils

Other. Use of this code indicates that the Dependent on resin or

package in question is made with a resin combination of resins
other than the six listed above, or is made
of more than one resin listed above, and
used in a multi-layer combination.

Three and five gallon Bottles, plastic lumber

reusable water bottles, applications.
some citrus juice and
catsup bottles.