Making Sense of Those Darn Recycling Codes

Many of us have a love-hate relationship with plastic – on the one hand, it has made a lot of things in our lives ultra-convenient. On the other hand, this convenience has created a monster in the litter-al sense (yes, we went there) with mountains of the stuff in our landfills, clogging our waterways, and let’s not forget the plastic islands that have been making an appearance in the Pacific Ocean.

In 1988, the Society of the Plastics Industry decided to create a system to help consumers know what kind of plastics their products consisted of to assist recyclers in sorting the collected material, and from this system… a lot of confusion was born. You’ve probably found yourself in a situation where you weren’t sure which number could be recycled or not; couple that with each curbside program being different in what plastics they collect, many people are left with the dilemma of “To Recycle or not Recycle, that is the question” (extra points if you held the plastic like a skull and delivered the line in fine Shakespearean style).

Confusion and possible dramatics aside we’re here to help clarify what exactly each symbol means, and what marvelous things are created from the discarded plastic.

Number 1 Plastics: PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

Symbol	Found In	Recycled Into	Is it Recyclable?
	Pop bottles Water bottles Beer bottles Mouthwash bottles Peanut butter containers Salad dressing containers Food trays that can be cooked in the oven.	Polyester fibers (Polar Fleece) Thermoformed sheet Strapping, Soft drink bottles Tote bags Furniture Carpet Paneling	Recycled through most curbside recycling programs

Number 2 Plastics: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

Symbol	Found In	Recycled Into	Is it Recyclable?
	Milk Jugs Juice Bottles Detergent Bottles Household Cleaner bottles Some Trash/Shopping Bags Motor Oil Bottles Butter & Yogurt Tabs Cereal Box Liners	Laundry Detergent Bottles Oil Bottles Pens Recycling Containers Floor Tile Drainage Pipe Lumber Doghouses	Recycled through most curbside recycling programsExceptions: Some programs only allow bottles with necks

Number 3 Plastics: Vinyl (V) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Symbol	Found In	Recycled Into	Is it Recyclable?
	Shampoo Bottle Window Cleaner Bottles Detergent Bottles Medical equipment Piping Siding Windows	Children’s Toys Non-food Bottles Pipe Fencing Shower Curtains Lawn Chairs	Recycled Sometimes; Accepted by most plastic lumber makers

Number 4 Plastics: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Symbol	Found In	Recycled Into	Is it Recyclable?
	Carpet Furniture Clothing Squeezable Bottles Bread Bags Frozen Food Bags Shopping Tote Bags	Plastic Bags Plastic Rings Various Containers Dispensing Bottles Wash Bottles Tubing Molded Lab Equipment	Some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to retailers for recycling

Number 5 Plastics: Polypropylene (PP)

Symbol	Found In	Recycled Into	Is it Recyclable?
	Some Yogurt Containers Medicine Bottles Straws Caps Ketchup Bottles Syrup Bottles	Trays Pallets Bins Rakes Ice Scrapers Car Battery Cases Brooms Brushes	Recycled through most curbside recycling programs

Number 6 Plastics: Polystyrene (PS)

Symbol	Found In	Recycled Into	Is it Recyclable?
	Egg Cartons Meat Trays Disposable Plates & Cups CD Cases Take Out Containers Pill Bottles	Insulation Take-Out Containers Egg Cartons Vents Rules Foam Packaging Light Switch Plates	Recycled through some curbside recycling programs

Number 7 Plastics: Other

Symbol	Found In	Recycled Into	Is it Recyclable?
	3-5 Gallon Water Bottles DVD’s Sunglasses Computer Cases iPod Cases Signs Nylon	Custom Made Products Plastic Lumber	Recycled through most curbside recycling programs

Hopefully, this will help you in any future recycling conundrums. Always check with your local municipality or city and see what their curbside recycling program takes, then check to see if there are any retailers who take plastics your curbside program doesn’t – a little footwork but totally worth it for the environment!