Within each chasing arrows triangle, there is a number which ranges from one to seven. Say so long to recycling code arrows. Thanks to its lightweight and rigid properties, PVC plastic can be easily stamped, sawed, punched, nailed, riveted, or bonded using PVC adhesive. For example, the table below shows the polymer resin (plastic) codes. Plastics recycling cheat sheet. Also known as PETE, this symbol represents polyethylene terephthalate, which is commonly used for soft drink bottles, mineral water containers, and fruit juice containers, and cooking oil containers. The recycling symbol is an international sign used to report that a product has been made from recycled or recyclable material. Symbol 7 including the word “OTHER” stands for “other plastics,” which include, but are not limited to, acrylic plastic, polycarbonate plastic, polylactic fibers, nylon, and fiberglass. However, both acrylic and polycarbonate can be recycled and can be repurposed for future projects. The presence on an item of a recycling code, a chasing arrows logo, or a resin code, is not an automatic indicator that a material is recyclable; it is an explanation of what the item is made of. Although not accepted in many curbside recycling programs, it can be recycled to make egg cartons, take-out containers, and rulers. For the best experience, please enable cookies when using our site. The recycling … PVC is rarely recycled and not usually part of a curbside recycling program. “But as it turns out, there are several different types of plastic, and some are easier for recycling centers to process than others.”. Hunt, Chenlong Zhang, Nick Anzalone, Joshua M. Pearce. Hunt, C. Zhang, N.Anzalone, and J. M. Pearce. It can be reused to make containers, carpet, and furniture. With that said, we’re highlighting how these unique numbers can indicate the type of plastic, and what they mean when it’s time to recycle them. It is recycled in some areas and used to make similar products like plastic wood, insulation, and hard-plastic pens. DOI: Acrylonitrile-chlorinated polyethylene-styrene, Acrylonitrile-(ethylene-propylene-diene)-styrene, methyl methacrylate-acrylnitrile-butadiene-styrene, poly(cyclohexlyene dimethylene cyclo-hexanedicar-boxylate), poly(cyclonhexylene dimethylene terephthalate), polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight, poly-(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate), Polymer recycling codes for distributed manufacturing with 3-D printers, Christie Engineering Standard – Packaging Labeling and Design for Environment Guidelines, Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Recycling_codes&oldid=980713358, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Chinese Standard Publishing House, Beijing; 2008. You may come across this plastic in bubble foils, and trays for sweets and fruit. It looks like Cookies are disabled in your browser. Plastics with this number are also picked up by most curbside programs and can be recycled into many kinds of goods. Acme has a proud heritage of customer service and reliability since 1943. We all know that the triangle symbol (♻) on the bottom of plastic bottles means to recycle.But what do the numbers inside the triangle mean? Download my free plastics recycling cheat sheet (PDF)! Recycling codes are used to identify the material from which an item is made, to facilitate easier recycling or other reprocessing. Chinese Standard Publishing House, Beijing; 2008, as cited in E. J. Since they are both thermoplastics, they can be reheated without a loss in quality. However, acrylic is also used in signs, shelving, and showcases for its durability. We are open & shipping products during the COVID-19 pandemic. So it’s best to find out what is acceptable in your municipality before tossing any ol' plastic into your blue bin.