Have you been wondering about the
numbers that appear on the bottom of products you buy that are packaged in
plastic containers? The numbers are the result of the plastic industry's
effort to make the identification and separating of plastics easier for
consumers and recyclers. Most uses of recycled plastics do not allow mixing of
the various types.
The numbers, which are enclosed by three
solid arrows that form a triangle, indicate the type of plastic used to make
the container. The seven types of plastics are described below.
1 = PET or PETE = Polyethylene
Teraphthalate
Common uses: soft drink bottles, some fruit juices, alcohol beverage bottles.
2 = HDPE = High density polyethylene
Common uses: (clear HDPE) milk jugs, distilled water, large vinegar bottles,
grocery bags; (colored HDPE) liquid laundry and dish detergent, fabric
softener, motor oil, antifreeze, bleach and lotion.
3 = V = Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride
Common uses: vegetable oil bottles, mouthwash, salad dressings.
4 = LDPE = Low density polyethylene
Common uses: bags for dry cleaning, bread, produce and trash and for food
storage containers.
5 = PP = Polypropylene
Common uses: battery cases, dairy tubs, cereal box liners.
6 = PS = Polystyrene
Common uses: yogurt cups, clear carryout containers, vitamin bottles, fast
food, spoons, knives and forks, hot cups, meat and produce trays, egg cartons,
clamshell carryout food containers.
7 = Other types of plastics
Plastics labeled with a seven (7) are made from a type other than the six most
common types listed above or they can be made from multiple layers of
different types of plastics.
Common uses: squeezable ketchup bottles,
most chip snack bags, juice boxes (individual servings).
While the coding system makes it easier
to sort the different types of plastics for recycling, most communities that
accept plastics in their recycling program collect only PETE (1) in the form
of plastic soda bottles and HDPE (2) in the form of milk jugs.
