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Plastic Recycling Resin ID Code Numbers
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| Many plastic items are marked with a resin ID code – usually a number (1 through 7) or a letter abbreviation – which indicates a
particular type of plastic. The code is typically found on the bottom of a container and is often displayed inside a three-arrow recycling symbol. Resin ID codes are used to help identify
different plastics for recycling, but they do not provide guidance on the safe or intended use of a product and should not be used for this purpose |
| Resin Code |
Symbol |
Type of Products |
Examples of Products
made from Recycled Content |
1 - PET
|
 |
Polyethylene terephthalate; includes plastic soda bottles and some detergent bottles; commonly recycled. |
Fiber, tote bags, clothing, film and
sheet, food and beverage containers, carpet, strapping, fleece wear,
luggage and bottles.
|
2 - HDPE
|
 |
High density polyethylene; includes milk jugs; commonly recycled. |
Liquid laundry detergent, shampoo,
conditioner and motor oil bottles; pipe, buckets, crates, flower pots,
garden edging, film and sheet, recycling bins, benches, dog houses,
plastic lumber, floor tiles, picnic tables, fencing.
|
3 - PVC or V
|
 |
Polyvinyl chloride; includes garden hoses, plastic flooring, credit cards, and shower curtains |
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.
|
4 - LDPE
|
 |
Low density polyethylene; includes clear packaging on cassettes or CDs, plastic sandwich bags and plastic grocery bags; recycled at many grocery
stores. |
Shipping envelopes, garbage can liners, floor tile, paneling, furniture, film and sheet, compost bins, trash cans, landscape timber, and outdoor lumber. |
5 - Polypropylene
|
 |
Includes plastic lids, bottle caps, straws, and some food containers; generally not recyclables |
Automobile battery cases, signal lights,
battery cables, brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, oil funnels, bicycle
racks, rakes, bins, pallets, sheeting, trays.
|
6 - Polystyrene
|
 |
Styrofoam, such as coffee cups. |
Thermometers, light switch plates,
thermal insulation, egg cartons, vents, desk trays, rulers, license
plate frames, foam packing, foam plates, cups, utensils
|
7 - Mixed plastics
|
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Several types of plastic mixed together; probably can't be recycled. |
Bottles and plastic lumber applications.
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More information from The Society of the Plastics
Industry |
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