Have you ever noticed the little triangle with a number inside on the bottom of a plastic bottle or container? These are called Resin Identification Codes. Contrary to popular belief, the presence of this symbol does not automatically mean an item is recyclable. The system was created in 1988 by the plastics industry to help recycling facilities sort different types of plastics. Understanding these codes is a great first step toward becoming a more informed consumer and recycler.
This guide will walk you through the seven standard plastic codes, explaining what each material is, what it's commonly used for, and its general recyclability. Remember, always check with your local recycling program to see which plastics they accept, as capabilities vary widely from place to place.
Here is a visual guide to help you identify these common plastic types in your own home.
1 - PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Characteristics: Clear, tough, and has good gas and moisture barrier properties. It's the most common plastic for single-use bottled beverages.
Common Uses: Soft drink bottles, water bottles, sports drink bottles, peanut butter jars, salad dressing bottles, and some food trays.
Recyclability: Widely recycled. PET bottles are one of the most commonly accepted plastics in curbside recycling programs.
2 - HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Characteristics: Stiff, strong, durable, and resistant to chemicals and moisture. It's very common and versatile.
Common Uses: Milk jugs, detergent and bleach bottles, shampoo bottles, some plastic bags, cereal box liners, and yogurt tubs.
Recyclability: Widely recycled. Like PET, rigid HDPE containers are accepted by most recycling programs. However, HDPE bags and films often require drop-off at a store's plastic bag recycling bin.
3 - PVC or V (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Characteristics: Can be rigid or flexible. It is strong and weathers well. It contains chlorine, and its manufacture and disposal can create environmental concerns.
Common Uses: Rigid pipes (for plumbing), window frames, non-food bottles, blister packs, and flexible products like cling film, medical tubing, and some toys.
Recyclability: Rarely recycled. PVC is difficult to recycle and is not accepted by most curbside programs. It can contaminate other plastic recycling streams.
4 - LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Characteristics: Flexible, tough, and relatively transparent. It has a lower density than HDPE.
Common Uses: Plastic shopping bags, shrink wrap, dry cleaner bags, bread bags, frozen food bags, and squeezable bottles (like honey or mustard).
Recyclability: Sometimes recycled. Rigid LDPE containers may be accepted in some curbside programs, but flexible LDPE films and bags typically must be returned to a store's drop-off location and should not be put in curbside bins as they can jam sorting machinery.
5 - PP (Polypropylene)
Characteristics: Hard, heat-resistant, and durable. It has a high melting point, making it suitable for hot-fill liquids and microwaveable containers.
Common Uses: Yogurt cups, margarine tubs, bottle caps, straws, medicine bottles, and takeout food containers.
Recyclability: Increasingly recycled. Many community recycling programs now accept rigid PP containers, but acceptance is not as universal as it is for #1 and #2 plastics.
6 - PS (Polystyrene)
Characteristics: Can be rigid and brittle, or foamed (often called Styrofoam). It's lightweight but bulky.
Common Uses: Disposable coffee cups, take-out food containers, egg cartons, foam packaging peanuts, disposable cutlery, and CD cases.
Recyclability: Difficult to recycle and rarely accepted. Polystyrene is not accepted in most curbside programs because it is bulky, lightweight (making transport inefficient), and can break into small pieces that contaminate other recyclables.
7 - OTHER or O (All Other Plastics)
Characteristics: This is a catch-all category for any plastic that does not fit into codes 1-6. It includes multi-layer plastics, bioplastics (like PLA), polycarbonate, and others.
Common Uses: Sunglasses, DVDs, computer cases, certain food containers, nylon, and compostable plastics.
Recyclability: Highly variable and generally difficult. Because this category contains so many different types of mixed materials, they are extremely difficult to sort and recycle. Most are not accepted in standard recycling programs.
