The Meaning of Plastic Recycling Symbols

By: Michael Arms Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Plastic plays an essential function in our consumer-driven lifestyle. It's everywhere - the most common material used to make products for our convenience - containers, cell phone casing, plastic bags, etc. Have you ever pondered on, for an instant, the meaning of those symbols found in your plastic-made items?

Plastic recycling symbols show the categories of resin used to synthesize the material. These designs are fixed following the international Plastic Coding System, and are often delineated as a number (from 1 to 7) enclosed by a triangle or a plain triangular loop (also known as the Mobius loop), with an acronym of the specific material used, right below the loop.

Here are concise definitions of each of the 7 recycling logos widely used, today:

1 - PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene)

Light weight, cheap, and easy to fabricate, Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene is the most prevalent plastic resin in use today. PET is mostly used in softdrink bottles, mouthwash bottles, and ovenable food trays. It can be recycled into polar fleece, tote bags, plastic furniture, etc. The requirement for this plastic among recyclers is relatively high, but at the moment, the recycling rate for this material has remained low at 20%.

2 - HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)

High Density Polyethylene is stronger and sensitive to chemical corrosion, this material poses a relatively moderate risk of leaching chemicals when used as container for food and beverage. It is largely used as containers for staple household chemicals (shampoos, detergents, etc.), milk carton liners, scented water bottles, etc. This can be remade into toys, drainage, plastic lumber, recycling containers, etc.

3 - PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

PVC has been known as a health risk - it has been observed to consistently drain chemicals when used as containers. PVC is mainly used for piping, clear food packaging, shampoo bottles, etc. It contains chlorine and will dispense toxins if incinerated. PVC should be avoided in food preparation or food packaging. It can be reconstituted into decking, panels, mats, etc.

4 - LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene )

LDPE is manufactured into tote bags, sheets, furnitures, etc. Durable but also elastic, it is ideal for packaging, insulation, and sealing. LDPE, through many curbside recycling programs, can be reused into paneling, compost bins, and plastic lumber.

5 - PP (Polypropylene)

PP is most suitable for hot liquid containers and is likewise made into yogurt containers, battery cables, ketchup bottles, etc. PP can be reused into signal lights, brushes, bicycle racks, etc.

6 - PS (Polystyrene)

Polystyrene is the most common material for insulation and is used in foam products like expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as styrofoam. It is manufactured into carry-out food containers, meat trays, disposable cups. PS incorporates benzene, a cancer-causing chemical and should not be incinerated. It is recycled into insulation, vents, water buoys, etc.

7 - OTHER (Polycarbonate)

Recycling symbol 7 - OTHER signifies materials not belonging to any of the other 6 resin groupings. OTHER may also signify a hybrid resin made up of a combination of those materials. It is widely found in baby feeding bottles, milk can liners, camping jugs, certain food product bottles, etc. It can be reconstituted into plastic timber and other tailor-made items.

Not all number 7 plastics are polycarbonate, a handful are even organic. Polycarbonate has become the focus of contention in recent years, as it is discovered to leach BPA (bisphenol A), a hormonal disruptor that may severely affect child-bearing and fetal development.

In our current health-attentive environment, a basic understanding of the items that we handle can frequently signify the difference between a vibrant family and a home threatened by debilitating chemicals and carcinogens. Though recycling symbols are essentially devised to help crew in grouping materials in recycling establishments, knowing these symbols is rapidly becoming necessary in protecting our own well-being and that of our families.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Michael Arms is a writer for 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.