This identifies the type of plastic resin used to make the item by providing a 'Resin Identification Code'. The recycling logo consists of a number in the middle. How to recycle it: HDPE can often be picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only containers with necks. Once you find a recycling center near you, it’s worth having a conversation about all seven recycle symbols. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and V (vinyl) is tough and weathers well, so it's commonly used for things like piping and siding. This therefore makes it an option to include on corrugated cardboard packaging, and is particularly relevant to any packs that will be used / handled by end users (as opposed to within a supply chain). Sometimes it seems like everything in modern America is made of plastic. The universal recycling symbol (U+2672 ♲ universal recycling symbol or U+267B ♻ black universal recycling symbol in Unicode) is an internationally recognized symbol used … Most places still don't accept it in foam forms because it's 98% air. It advises what type of plastic the item is made from but not if it is recyclable. Found in: Soft drinks, water, ketchup, and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers. We accept PET (soft drinks bottles – denoted by the number 1 within the triangle) and HDPE (i.e. Which bin? In fact, returned packaging is burned or dumped massively. Why trust us? The plastic is easily recyclable so it’s often part of curbside recycling programs. The PIC (Plastics Identification Code) makes it easy to identify different plastics with the symbol being embossed into most plastic made products. It's best to throw loose caps into the garbage since they easily slip through screens during recycling and end up as trash anyways. The plastic recycling symbol is a triangle symbol, usually at the bottom of the plastic container. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many types of goods. Compared with the lucrative recycling of metal, and similar to the low value of glass recycling, plastic polymers recycling is often more challenging because of low density and low value.There are also numerous technical hurdles to overcome when recycling plastic. It can be used in your home or place of business to provide an at-a-glance summary of various plastics, where they are commonly used and if they can be placed in your recycle bin. You may come across this plastic in bubble foils, and trays for sweets and fruit. First, you need to know that on most plastic packaging products, including containers and jars, you’ll see a recycling logo printed typically on the bottom. The original recycling symbol was designed by Gary Anderson in a logo design contest held by Bill Loyd, the graphic designer at Container Corporation of America in 1970. First, you need to know that on most plastic packaging products, including containers and jars, you’ll see a recycling logo printed typically on the bottom. These are also included in category #7, which can be confusing to the consumer. Unfortunately, a lot of consumer goods are enclosed in the stuff. From helping you decode eco-friendly claims to sharing the winners of our first-ever Sustainable Packaging Awards, we're here to help you make smarter decisions for your home and the environment. Found in: Shampoo and cooking oil bottles, blister packaging, wire jacketing, siding, windows, piping. In this article, we will discuss Recycling Symbols meanings, and Plastic Symbol number meanings (Resin Codes), recycling and recycle signs, logos for recycling. How to recycle it: PET or PETE can be picked up through most curbside recycling programs as long as it's been emptied and rinsed of any food. 1 Plastic Recycling Symbol #1: PET or PETE PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) is the most common plastic for single-use bottled beverages, because it's … We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Found in: Milk jugs; juice bottles; bleach, detergent, and other household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners. Plastic packaging is hardly recycled in the United States, even though it carries the universal symbol of recycling, a triangle of chasing arrows. Its recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), even though the material is in high demand by manufacturers. Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mud-flaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats. Download my free plastics recycling cheat sheet (PDF)! If you need to dispose of either material, ask your local waste management to see if you should put it in the trash or drop it off at a collection center. While not all plastics can be recycled, you can still recycle most—and the best way to determine which ones is by understanding the plastic recycling symbol system. Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup and medicine bottles, caps, straws. We are open & shipping products during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, both acrylic and polycarbonate can be recycled and can be repurposed for future projects. Essentially, most thermoplastics (which are flexible and are typically containers for packaging consumer goods like drink bottles) can and should be recycled. PP, or polypropylene plastic, , is appropriately marked by the number five symbol including the acronym PP. How to recycle it: Not many curbside recycling programs accept PS in the form of rigid plastics (and many manufacturers have switched to using PET instead). It can be used in your home or place of business to provide an at-a-glance summary of various plastics, where they are commonly used and if they can be placed in your recycle bin. This dot does not mean that the packaging is recycled or recyclable. Plastic Recycling Symbol When the three arrows surround a number, that indicates the material is a type of plastic resin that can be recycled.