What Every Plastic Recycling Symbol Actually Means
Doesn’t that just mean it’s recyclable? Not exactly. Resin codes were introduced in 1988 with the intention to make recycling easier ♻️ Just because a product has the chasing arrows symbol, doesn't mean it's recyclable — it's just an indicator of the type of plastic.
Many plastics can be readily recycled, but according to National Geographic, a whopping 91% of plastic has never even been recycled. With all the different rules and symbols, it can be confusing for consumers to figure out exactly what each plastic recycling symbol means and how to recycle it. While the universal plastic resin symbol remains the same, ♻️ the numbers 1-7 inside make a significant difference.
The versatile material is in our cars, toys, packaging, clothing, home goods, food utensils, and so much more — but it's also littering our streets, clogging our waterways, and choking marine life. In fact, one 2016 study from the World Economic Forum found that 32% of plastic packaging ends up in our oceans every year.
How to know what plastics can be recycled
Every town and city has different recycling programs, so you'll often have to check your location's rules to find out exactly what you can recycle. Plus, there are times when your recycling program may change what it collects.
Some people say they don't recycle because the rules are too confusing. Other people think that recycling is too much work. The truth is, recycling is as easy as trashing, but so much more responsible. That is why the City of San Diego has shortened and simplified the guidelines for curbside recycling. Simply empty out the excess product from acceptable items and place them in the blue bin. Not sure what items are recyclable?
The number corresponds to a plastic polymer
Polyethylene - A clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that is widely used for packaging foods and beverages, especially convenience-sized soft drinks, juices and water Soda and water bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; etc. Recycling: Plastic containers with a recycling symbol are collected in your blue recycling container.
High-density polyethylene - is used in a wide variety of applications, including plastic bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, bleach bottles, cutting boards, and piping.
Polyvinyl chloride - is a versatile material that offers many possible applications, these include; window frames, drainage pipe, water service pipe, medical devices, blood storage bags, cable and wire insulation, resilient flooring, roofing membranes, stationary, automotive interiors and seat coverings, fashion and footwear, packaging
Low-Density Polyethylene - uses majorly revolve around manufacturing containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing, plastic bags for computer components, and various molded laboratory equipments. The most popular application of low-density polyethylene is plastic bags.
Polypropylene - is one of the most commonly used thermoplastics in the world. Polypropylene uses range from plastic packaging, plastic parts for machinery and equipment and even fibres and textiles.
polystyrene, a hard, stiff, brilliantly transparent synthetic resin produced by the polymerization of styrene. It is widely employed in the food-service industry as rigid trays and containers, disposable eating utensils, and foamed cups, plates, and bowls.
The resin code is used as a miscellaneous category for less common polymer- Three- and five-gallon water bottles, bullet-proof materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon. How to recycle it: These other plastics are traditionally not recycled, so don't expect your local provider to accept them. The best option is to consult your municipality's website for specific instructions