Have you ever considered what these stamped marks in plastic bottles or plastic bags signify? Time after time, we find ourselves mystified about the interpretation of these recycling symbols and their relevance to environmental and health issues.
Plastic recycling symbols stand for the types of resin used to manufacture the plastic. These designs are specified according to the international Plastic Coding System, and are usually depicted as a number (from 1 up to 7) fenced by a triangle or a simplified triangular loop (also known as the Mobius loop), with an acronym of the particular material used, right below the loop.
Here are short explanations of all of the 7 recycling symbols universally used, today:
1 - PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene)
Light weight, low-priced, and easy to create, PET is the most common plastic resin in use today. PET is mostly used in softdrink bottles, mouthwash bottles, and microwaveable food trays. It can be reconstituted into polar fleece, tote bags, carpet, etc. The need for this material among recyclers is fairly strong, but at present, the recycling rate for this material has remained low at 20%.
2 - HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
HDPE is more durable and less vulnerable to chemical corrosion, this material presents a relatively minimal danger of seeping toxins when used as container for food and drinks. It is primarily used as containers for common household chemicals (shampoos, degreasers, etc.), cereal box liners, talc bottles, etc. This can be remade into floor tile, drainage, plastic lumber, pipes, etc.
3 - PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Polyvinyl Chloride has been identified as a health risk - it has been established to consistently leach toxins when used as containers. PVC is mainly used for piping, hospital items, bleach bottles, etc. It contains chlorine and will emit toxins if burned. PVC should not be used in food preparation or food packaging. It can be reclaimed into decking, speed humps, binders, etc.
4 - LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene )
Low Density Polyethylene is the material present in plastic bags, clothing, dry cleaning jackets, etc. Durable and pliant, it is perfect for packaging, insulation, and sealing. LDPE, through many curbside recycling programs, can be reconstituted into cans, shipping envelopes, and landscaping tiles.
5 - PP (Polypropylene)
This low density plastic resin is most suited for boiling fluid containers and is also used in brooms, battery cables, ketchup bottles, etc. PP can be reused into bins, brushes, bicycle racks, etc.
6 - PS (Polystyrene)
Polystyrene is the standard component for insulation and is used in foam products like expanded polystyrene (EPS), generally known as styrofoam. It is made into carry-out food containers, egg cartons, disposable cups. PS incorporates benzene, a human carcinogen and should not be incinerated. It is reused into insulation, packaging, foam packaging, etc.
7 - OTHER (Polycarbonate)
Recycling symbol 7 - OTHER denotes materials not belonging to any of the other 6 resin categories. OTHER may also signify a hybrid resin made up of a mix of those materials. It is mainly found in infant feeding containers, soup can liners, business signages, iPod cases, etc. It can be recycled into plastic timber and other tailored crafts.
Not all number 7 plastics are polycarbonate, some are even plant-based. Polycarbonate has become the center of debate in recent years, as it is monitored to discharge BPA (bisphenol A), a hormonal disruptor that may may potentially alter pregnancy and fetal development.
Plastic recycling symbols are conceptualized essentially to assist the technicians in recycling centers in appropriately organizing materials for processing. A rudimentary understanding of these signs can also help us in figuring out if the plastic product were using in our houses are safe for us and our children.
Michael Arms submits essays to the Pacebutler Recycling and Environmental blog. Pacebutler Corporation based Edmond, Oklahoma is a US cell phone trading company that pays cash for cell phones, in an online transaction. If you just want to dispose of your old cell phones in an environmentally-friendly manner, you may also recycle cell phones through Pacebutler.
