Why so many different numbers used with the recycling sign?

Question

There is 6, 2, 3, etc. How many are there and why use them? Heck, why use a recycling symbol, when just tell people to recycle glass, paper, plastic, and cardboard?

Answer 1

Different types of plastic have to be recycled differently. The numbers tell what kind of plastic it is. There are many kinds. All plastic is not the same. These numbers are only on plastics. You never see them on metal or glass.

Answer 2

There are seven numbers used to distinguish types of plastic. When the plastic is sorted, a competent sorter (if there are any at the rate they are paid) can separate many of them by sight and feel but it can be difficult to tell high-density polyethylene from low-density, sometimes.

The numbers not only tell people what they can recycle but help the sorter pull the "waste" material from the plastic they can use. Many programs want only PETE and HDPE (1& 2).. Very few will take OTHER (7).

Answer 3

There are 7 numbers that refer to different types of plastic - PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS and other.  The number is on plastics so that when they are recycled, they are divided into the type of plastic to be reused.  Milk containers are made of HDPE and they recycle them into playground equipment and other items.  Yogurt containers are made out of polypropylene and they can be recycled into automotive parts.  The numbers are ONLY used on plastics, not glass, paper and cardboard.

Answer 4

Actually, the chasing arrows on plastics do not have anything to do with recycling.  The plastics industry began using the symbol in 1988 to improve the image of plastic, much to the confusion of purchasers and recyclers.  The numbers do signify the type of  plastic and currently, most garbage haulers can only find a market for plastics marked #1 and #2 (the rest either contaminate the little plastic that is recycled, or go to the landfill).  Here in Marin County, CA, we have one of the highest recycling rates in the country and are still only able to recycle less than 10% of the plastics.

Answer 5

The numbers refer to the type of plastic.

To answer your second question, some types of plastic are not recyclable.  For example, plastic grocery bags can be reused, but not recycled.