What do the numbers mean inside the little recyle triangles you find on plastic or glass containers?

Question

someone told me it was the number of times the container could be reused prior to throwing it out but that seems completely wrong as my milk jug has a 2 in it.

Answer 1

This is the "recycling code" for that type of plastic.  For example, I have curb side recycling in my area and they can only take those plastics marked with either 1 or 2 due to the facility capabilities.  It has nothing to do with the number of times it can be used.  And nothing to do with the number of times it can be recycled.

Answer 2

its the grade of plastic, use these numbers to separate your plastics into recyclables.

Answer 3

Recycle, and the material grade.

Answer 4

all that has to do is what catagory it is.  Its not the number of times it can be reused.  It has to deal with what its made of.  go to this site, it explains all of it.

http://www.pslc.ws/mactest/work/recycle....

Answer 5

The numbers from one to seven inside the triangles have to do with the type of polymer used to make that plastic item.  There are seven different types.

Answer 6

They are codes that tell you what type of plastic you have - HDPE, PETF, etc.

Here is a link that decodes them:

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~bridge/einstein...

Answer 7

The number inside the recycle symbol designates what type of plastic is used.

1 = PET or PETE (PolyEthylene TerEphthalate)

2 = HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene)

3 = PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride)

4 = LDPE (Low Density PolyEthylene)

5 = PP (PolyPropylene)

6 = PS (PolyStyrene)

7 = Other (mixed plastics)

PETE (#1) is normally used for plastic soda bottles and plastic beer bottles due to its clarity and other properties.

HDPE (#2) is used for milk jugs, detergent bottles, and gas cans.  It is not clear like PETE is but it has good resistance to chemically reacting with different chemicals.  It is also made into foam and sometimes used for product cushioning.

PVC (#3) isn't used that much except for cold water house piping or electrical piping.  It melts at low temperatures and can be extruded easily.

LDPE (#4) is normally used for plastic sheeting, bags, and some lids and cups.

PP (#5) is used for mainly lids and caps (especially hinged lids) because it has a good ability of going back to its original shape and of bending many times without breaking.  It is also used for some bottles and also as a foam for cushioning.  It is also used for microwavable meal trays because it has a high melting point and doesn't melt in the microwave easily.

PS (#6) is known most commonly as Styra Foam.  Although that name is a brand name and not the actual plastic.  It is used to make polystyrene cups, coolers, throw-away plates, packing peanuts, and foam cushioning.  It is also sometimes used for some clear bottles.  Polystyrene when it is not foamed can be very clear and makes a good strong bottle that can almost look like glass.  However most people are used to seeing it in the foam state.  It has a lot of strength but melts at low temperatures.

For more info see the website below:

http://www.valcorerecycling.org/affair/a...

Answer 8

The numbers represent different kinds of plastic and indicate whether or not it is recyclable in your area.  For example in my area only # 1 and #2 plastics can be recycled.  So if I am putting #5 plastic containers (yogurt containers) in the recycle bin it is a waste of time because they will not be recycled.

Answer 9

It coincides with the number found on the glass or platic containers that are ok to put in that recycle bin.

Answer 10

It means what chemicals are in the plastic and how it can be recycled. Our community only accepts 1 or 2. All other numbers have to be thrown away.

Answer 11

It means the number of times the plastic has been recycled

Answer 12

The letters indicate the type of plastic, the numbers indicate the density, higher number = higher density...

Answer 13

You're right, it has nothing to do with the number of times it can be used, the numbers are a code for the type of material the container is made from, Polyethylene (PE), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyethertetraethylene (PETE), etc.

This helps the different types of plastic be seperated, as they need to be re-processed in different ways

Answer 14

Resin identification code

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Sorted household plastic waiting to be hauled away for reprocessing.

Polypropylene lid of a Tic Tacs box, with a living hinge and the resin identification code under its flapThe symbols in the table below belong to the SPI resin identification coding system, developed by the NA Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988.

Most plastics can be recycled, but they have to be separated into their different polymer types. Because of the difficulty and expense of sorting, collecting, cleaning and reprocessing, at the moment it is only economically viable to recycle PETE, HDPE and PVC. Thermoplastics can be remelted, but thermosetting plastics can only be crushed and used as insulation.

The symbols used in the code consist of arrows that cycle clockwise to form a rounded triangle and enclosing a number, often with an acronym representing the plastic below the triangle.

When the number is omitted, the symbol is known as the universal Recycling Symbol, indicating generic recyclable materials. In this case, other text and labels are used to indicate the material(s) used.

Use of the recycling symbol in the coding of plastics has led to ongoing consumer confusion about which plastics are readily recyclable. In most communities throughout the United States, PETE and HDPE are the only plastics collected in municipal recycling programs. Some regions, though, are expanding the range of plastics collected as markets become available.

The Unicode character encoding standard includes the resin identification codes, between code points U+2673 and U+2679 inclusive. The generic material recycling symbol is encoded as code point U+267A.

Recycling No. Abbreviation Polymer Name Uses

PETE or PET Polyethylene Terephthalate Recycled to produce polyester fibres, thermoformed sheet, strapping, soft drink bottles.

(See also: Recycling of PET Bottles)



HDPE High-Density Polyethylene Recycled to become various bottles, grocery bags, recycling bins, agricultural pipe, base cups, car stops, playground equipment, and plastic lumber.

PVC or V Polyvinyl Chloride Recycled to become pipe, fencing, and non-food bottles.

LDPE Low-Density Polyethylene Recycled to become plastic bags, various containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing, and various molded laboratory equipment.

PP Polypropylene Recycled into auto parts and industrial fibers.

PS Polystyrene Recycled into a wide range of products including office accessories, cafeteria trays, toys, video cassettes and cases, insulation board and expanded polystyrene products (e.g. Styrofoam).

OTHER Other plastics, including acrylic, polycarbonate, polylactic acid , nylon and fiberglass.  

Legislation is currently being considered in California which would add a "0" code for compostable polylactic acid.[1]

Answer 15

There are 6 different types of plastic.  Each have a different chemical make-up, the numbers classify them.  There is a seventh category for plastics that don't fall under the previous 6.  Certain cities only collect one and two so it's good to check on what your city will recycle.

here's the classifications

1. PET

Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.



2. HDPE

High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.



3. PVC

Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.





4.  LDPE

Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.



5. PP

Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.



6. PS

Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.



7. OTHER

Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.



Hope this was helpful!  Have a fantastic day!

Answer 16

Resin ID code.  To help classify what kind of plastic it is  See site below.

Answer 17

it's a code to know what type of plastic is used in the item.