Did you know that, while the use of all plastics should be limited if at all possible, some are safer than others? A few things: Trust your plastics recycling questions to Miller Recycling. Other Plastic Recycling Numbers. 7 OTHER or O Other plastics, such as acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, and polylactic acid (a bioplastic also known as PLA), and multilayer combinations of different plastics Bottles, plastic lumber applications, headlight lenses, and safety shields/glasses. Purslane – Just a Weed, or an Unrecognized Health-Boosting Plant? Other plastic types may not be permitted in your bin, depending on your municipality’s guidelines. Only the most common types of plastic are numbered – there are many more plastics than numbers and new plastics are being made all the time. Our team can help your business establish an efficient and cost-effective system for recycling plastics, and we pay competitively for large quantities of plastics including hard-to-recycle varieties. The plastics recycling numbers categorize the different plastics from numbers 1 to 7. MILLER RECYCLING CORPORATION |. 'Recovered' is a broader term than 'recycling' and refers to material that is not sent to landfil and is repurposed in some way, it includes recovering energy from waste (incineration). The number to found on the bottom of plastics is not a recycling symbol but rather a plastic or resin identification code. A lot of plastic wrappings are made of LDPE plastic. This plastic is recycled into compost bins, paneling, trash can liners and cans, floor tiles, and shipping envelopes. Each number or plastic identification code (PIC) corresponds to a different type of plastic, each with its own properties and level of recyclability. Life is complicated enough without having to commit to memory the ways that HDPE differs from LDPE; unless, of course, you work in the plastics recycling industry. It’s also the most complicated material to recycle, in part because consumers don’t know what types can be disposed of and in which ways. Because the classification system was developed in 1988, any plastic formulated since then falls into this category. Lichtenstein also did not reach the target with 18.3 %. Facebook; Twitter ; Whats App; Reddit; Email; Stuff. Styrofoam products are made out of PS plastic, so it’s commonly used to make disposable coffee cups, packing peanuts, coolers and to-go food containers. It’s found in shampoo bottles, clear food packaging, cooking oil bottles, medical equipment, piping, and windows. Increasingly becoming accepted by curbside recycle programs, plastic #5 is also. Plastic codes are the numbers you find on the base of your shampoo bottle and the like. Are Farmers Being Manipulated Into Buying GMO Soybean Seeds? Smile: Nurses Win the Lottery, Give Winnings to Co-Workers in Need, 1,200+ Breweries Make a Beer to Help Victims of Deadly CA ‘Camp Fire’, Nestlé Vows to Make All Its Packaging Recyclable by 2025. This is the blanket category for every type of plastic that doesn’t fit into anywhere else. And why would you be able to? Your recycling bin is part of the solution, but many of us are confused about what we should be putting in there. exclusively material that is recycled back into plastics. It is recycled into plastic lumber and other custom-made products. Rigid plastics such as icing buckets, milk crates, seafood trays, and pharmaceutical containers are not accepted in single stream recycling. The Numbers on Plastic Bottles: What do Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean? All of the plastic resins that don’t fit into the other categories are. Refer to Recycling plastic bags and soft plastics for more information on how to recycle this type of HDPE plastic. PET or PETE is what’s used to make bottles for soda, water and other drinks. While you may think nothing of these symbols, they can actually offer a great deal of information regarding the toxic chemicals used in the plastic, how likely the plastic is to leach, how bio-degradable the plastic is, and ultimately the safety of the plastic. Here is some information on the various recycling symbols and numbers: In the end, it’s really best to avoid using all plastics if you’re able. Plastic #3 is used to make food wrap, plumbing pipes, and detergent bottles, and is seldom accepted by curbside recycling programs. These include heavier containers that hold laundry detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo, and motor oil. 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It’s also used to make cooking oil containers, plastic peanut butter jars and containers for other popular food items. This will tell you both the type of plastic used and which type is recyclable or even reusable. Some centers can recycle codes #1 (soft), #4, and #5. But it does not indicate that you can fearlessly use safer plastic. Who are Really the Top Shareholders of Monsanto? It is estimated that 95% of the value of plastic packaging material is lost to the economy after a short first-use cycle. These. Every plastic container or bottle has a recycling symbol. This symbol DOES not mean the product has been recycled. Plastic labeled with the number 2 is often recycled into toys, piping, truck bed liners, and rope. It’s found mostly in soda bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, salad dressing containers, mouthwash bottles, and peanut butter containers. It’s also used to make grocery bags and the bags that hold newspapers, sliced bread loaves and fresh produce, among other things. Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs. Whereas plastic numbers 1, 3, 6 and 7 must be avoided. Any type of plastic that doesn’t fit into one of the first six categories falls under this heading. Plastic #6 is found in compact disc cases, egg cartons, meat trays, and disposable plates and cups. 110-Year-Old Man Says These 5 Foods are Essential for Longevity, Kidney Cleanse: 22 Foods for Kidney Health, Bill Gates Faces Trial in India for Illegally Testing Tribal Children with Vaccines, 10 Health Benefits of Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) – Part 1, Is “Non-Toxic” Nail Polish Really Non-Toxic? Plastics such as nylon fall into this group. It is recycled into egg cartons, vents, foam packing, and insulation. Woot! It’s the number inside the triangle that counts, because each number corresponds to a different type of plastic. Picked up by most curbside recycling programs, plastic #1 is usually clear and used to make soda and water bottles. Recycling these containers isn’t just an option: it’s the law. Recycling household cleaners blueland what do recycling symbols mean the 7 types of plastic what they mean plastic types virgin valley disposal plastic types virgin valley disposalPlastics By The NumbersWhat Do Numbers 1 7 On Recyclable Plastics MeanRecycling Symbols On Read more… We know that plastics recycling can be confusing. Have you ever wondered what the numbers, or recycling symbols mean at the bottom of plastic bottles and containers? Again, as with number 3 plastics, these are not commonly recycled. This interactive explores some of the plastics the recycling system was designed to handle and explains why other plastic packaging shouldn’t go in your recycling bin. Polypropylene is recycled into brooms, auto battery cases, bins, pallets, signal lights, ice scrapers, and bycycle racks. This plastic is considered safe and has low risk of leaching. All of the latest health news that actually matters. Always check with your local municipality to confirm that a plastic material can be recycled in your community. Most recycling programs won’t accept it. Download the full infographic here. There’s a good chance you’ve held something made of this plastic type today. The code includes a number, which corresponds to a polymer used in a plastic product, helping to identify what plastic was used to create the item bearing the symbol. Give your local facility a call to see if they accept plastic codes #1 (soft), #4, and #5. To make a long story short: plastic recycling numbers 2, 4 and 5 are the safest. Polystyrene is Styrofoam, which is notorious for being difficult to recycle, and thus, bad for the environment. This plastic is one of the 3 plastics. (This is best for your health anyway). Plastic #2 is typically opaque and picked up by most curbside recycling programs. 4 Reasons to Choose Local, EWG Report: Your Tap Water is Contaminated with Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’, Acetaminophen may Increase Stroke Risk in People with Diabetes, THE Organic Non-GMO Cookbook & Shopping Guide (E-Book). The presence of a resin code doesn’t necessarily mean that the product can be recycled. Accepted materials in recycling programs vary from city to city. Both individuals and businesses should also bear in mind that here in Massachusetts, the statewide waste ban prohibits the disposal of any single resin narrow-necked bottles (aka, soda bottles) in trash bins. Recyclable plastic usually comes with a little recycling symbol printed on the bottom and depending on the product, there might be a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 stamped in the center of the symbol. Ketchup bottles, toys, and plastic wrap use plastic type number four, LDPE. HDPE plastics are also extremely common. This kind of plastic also poses a health risk, leaching potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated. We accept credit card payments online, by phone, and in person. It’s the number inside the triangle that counts, because each number corresponds to a different type of plastic. Products stamped with a 7 are often made out of multiple plastic types or out of other types of plastic that can’t easily be recycled. This plastic recycling number is often applied to food bags and squeezable bottles, for products such as ketchup and mustard. Types 1 and 2 plastics may be tossed into standard recycling bins. Some consider it safe, but this plastic is known to allow bacteria to accumulate. The plastic recycling numbers, or Resin Identification Codes, were created as a type of plastic recycling code for those working in the plastic and recycling industry. To pay online please contact us to receive an invoice with a payment link. Ethylene-propylene plastic 25: EAA: Ethylene-acrylic acid plastic 26: EBAK: Ethylene-butyl acrylate plastic 27: EC: ethyl cellulose: 28: EEAK: Ethylene-ethyl acrylate plastic 29: EMA: Ethylene-methacrylic acid plastic 30: EP: epoxide; epoxy resin or plastic 31: ETFE: Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene plastic 32: EVA: Ethylene-vinyl acetate plastic 33: EVOH: Ethylene-vinyl alcohol plastic 34: FEP If you want to know about the other plastic recycling codes here are some links plastic by Numbers overview, plastic No 1 – PET, plastic No 2 – HDPE, plastic No 3 – PVC, plastic No 4 – LDPE, plastic No 5 – PP, plastic No 6 – PS. The low share of plastic recycling in the EU means big losses for the economy as well as for the environment. Biotech’s Bizarre World: 7 Genetically Modified Animals, How Monsanto's GMO Creations Caused 291,000 Suicides in India, 6 GMO Loaded Brands You Should Avoid Buying. Recycling rigid plastics. It is typically found in yogurt containers, ketchup bottles, syrup bottles, and medicine bottles. Plastic is like trees: it’s everywhere, and you know it when you see it, but you probably can’t explain the difference between types. What’s recyclable in one community could be trash in another. Just because a plastic type can be recycled doesn’t mean your local municipality wants you to put it into your recycling bin for collection. Plastic #7 is found in sunglasses, iPod cases, computer cases, nylon, 3- and 5-gallon water bottles, and bullet-proof materials. A product made of plastic is often stamped with a resin code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. 1 Plastic Recycling Symbol #1: PET or PETE PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) is the most common plastic for single-use bottled beverages, … The presence of a resin code doesn’t necessarily mean that the product can be recycled. Many plastic-based products cannot break down and cannot be recycled. Learn about the other Plastic numbers here: Plastic by Numbers Summary; Plastic Number #1 – PET or PETE; Plastic Numbers #3 – PVC; Plastic Numbers #4 – LDPE; Plastic Number #5 – PP; Plastic Number #6 – PS; Plastic Number #7 – Other Some plastics are coded with numbers ranging from 1 to 7, which identify the basic resin type of the plastic. Like plastic designated number 1, it is widely accepted at recycling centers. The target of 22.5 % recycled plastic packaging waste was met by all Member States, except Malta (19.2 %). The Federal Trade Commission requires that a product have at least 60% access to local programs (like Material Recovery Facility processing) across the U.S. to … PP is used to make the food containers used for products like yogurt, sour cream and margarine. Developed By. A product made of plastic is often stamped with a resin code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. Bags made of type 4 plastic, like produce and grocery bags, also shouldn’t be put into recycling bins because they can get tangled in the equipment at recycling facilities. You can identify plastic number 7 by the chasing arrows with a 7 inside. Generally speaking, plastics using resin numbers 1 and 2 can be placed in your kerbside bin, however different authorities have varying rules about the other resin numbers; so you should contact your local recycling/waste … The recycling numbers range from 1 to 7 and stand for different types of plastic. They’re those used to make milk jugs, shampoo bottles, cleaning product containers and detergent bottles. ALL CONTENT © 2006 - 2020 . Plastic #1 is recycled into tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, fiber, and polar fleece. They are becoming more commonly accepted as technology improves and as the market for these plastics grows. Studying the work of top natural health activists, and writing special reports for top 10 alternative health websites, Mike has written hundreds of articles and pages on how to obtain optimum wellness through natural health. It advises what type of plastic the item is made from but not if it is recyclable. It’s not viable for some plastics recycling companies to take hard-to-process plastic products like Styrofoam. It’s also made into straws, rope, carpet and bottle caps. The symbol is a number, ranging from 1 to 7, within a triangle. 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Instead of buying plastic water bottles or other plastic containers, choose glass or invest in a high quality water filtration system to obtain your water from. This has not been the case (for a long time now) in practice. It’s time to learn a little bit about the various plastics you use and drink/eat from every single day, and what impact they have not only on you, but also the environment. The figure suggests that plastic is recycled per product group. The plastic recycling number system actually serves no purpose: the consumer cannot do much with it and the waste separators do not use it. At Miller Recycling, plastic is one of the materials we receive and process. It is usually opaque. One of the best ways to help save Mother Earth is to recycle. All major credit cards accepted. It can be used in your home or place of business to provide an at-a-glance summary of various plastics, where they are commonly used and if they can be placed in your recycle bin. PVC is a soft, flexible plastic, so it’s used for a huge array of household products. Plastic #2 is recycled into pens, recycling containers, picnic tables, lumber, benches, fencing, and detergent bottles, to name a few. The plastic is crushed and then shredded into small flakes which are then reprocessed to make new PET bottles, or spun into polyester fiber. If you look at the number inside the triangle on your plastic, it will range from one to seven. Every plastic container or bottle has a recycling symbol. Low density polyethylene is most found in squeezable bottles, shopping bags, clothing, carpet, frozen food, bread bags, and some food wraps. While the figure gives an indication of the type of plastic, it says nothing about hardness, shape or consistency. The numbers chasing the arrow recycling symbol on plastics are tricky because they can mean different things. Number 4 plastics are known as PE-LD, or low-density polyethylene. Plastic can be one of the most confusing materials to identify for recycling. As always, contact us with questions. For example, in the year 2000 only 13,000 tonnes of plastic bottles were recycled ; the UK now recycles over 370,000 tonnes a year. So what does all of that mean for you? PET plastic is recyclable and about 25% of PET bottles in the US today are recycled. Tom Hunt 10:29, Jun 30 2020. The symbol is a number, ranging from 1 to 7, within a triangle. Plastics are often equipped with numeric symbols that allow for easier sorting. Curbside recycling programs haven’t been known to pick up this plastic, but more are starting to accept it. They identify the type of plastic used to make the product. However, there are options and markets to recycle these materials. Car parts, electronics, water cooler bottle and packaging all are grouped here. Hard-to-recycle plastics – including Styrofoam, shrink wrap and manufacturing scrap – require specialized handling. But at the very least: In the end, plastics will still be used, but you can certainly limit your use of the product. This code gives us information about the plastic such as chemicals used to produce it, safety of the plastic and how biodegradable it is – but don't let this recycle logo fool you! We can provide guidance and solutions to all your plastics needs. Mike is the co-founder, editor, and researcher behind Natural Society. The recycling rate covers only material recycling and no other forms of recycling, i.e. It’s found mostly in milk jugs, household cleaner containers, juice bottles, shampoo bottles, cereal box liners, detergent bottles, motor oil bottles, yogurt tubs, and butter tubs.ilk jugs, detergent bottles, juice bottles, butter tubs, and toiletries bottles are made of this. The recycling symbol on the back of plastic packaging is something we have all seen, the triangle shape made out of three arrows chasing each other with a number called the resin ID code (RIC). While you may think nothing of these symbols, they can actually offer a great deal of information regarding the toxic chemicals used in the plastic, how likely the plastic is to leach, how bio-degradable the plastic is, and ultimately the safety of the plastic. ©2020 - All Rights Reserved. Essentially, most thermoplastics (which are flexible and are typically containers for packaging consumer goods like drink bottles) can and should be recycled. Figure 9: Recycling rate for plastic packaging waste, 2017 (%) Source: Eurostat . Although plastic can be recycled these numbers do not automatically mean they are accepted in your local recycling program. Plastic tubing, kids’ toys, plastic trays and furniture are often made out of PVC. It’s easy to miss, but this tiny digit is actually pretty important, because it’s … This plastic is recycled into paneling, flooring, speed bumps, decks, and roadway gutters. PlasticsEurope reports that 7.7 million tons of plastics were recycled globally in 2014 That includes more than 3.5 million tons of post-industrial and post-consumer plastic scrap that were recycled in the United States, according to ISRI estimates. Plastic #4 rests among the recycling symbols. Corresponds to a different type of plastic used to make bottles for,. For recycling the product and squeezable bottles, cleaning product containers and detergent bottles number corresponds to a different of! Means big losses for the economy as well as milk, shampoo bottles, and.! Can not break down and can not be permitted in your community recycling rate for plastic packaging,... Bycycle racks health risk, leaching potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated or damaged of HDPE plastic products. It says nothing about hardness, shape or consistency Twitter ; Whats ;! Haven ’ t necessarily mean that the product, leaching potentially toxic chemicals when heated your bin... 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