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Plastic Identification Numbers

What do the plastic numbers stand for?

I’m sure you’ve seen plastic products imprinted with a recycle symbol (the three circulating arrows) that has a number inside. While most people refer to these as “plastic numbers” or “plastic codes,” the official term is actually “Plastic Identification Codes” or PIC for short. There are a total of 7 plastic numbers which were introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc back in 1988. The numbers were intended for use in identifying plastic types during the recycling purposes. Yes, even back in the 80s, people had recycling in mind.

The following is a list of plastic codes and its associated plastic type:

* Type 1 is polythylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)

* Type 2 is high-density polyethylene (HDPE)

* Type 3 is polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

* Type 4 is low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

* Type 5 is polypropylene (PP)

* Type 6 is polystyrene (PS)

* Type 7 is other (usually PC or ABS)

Why do plastics need to be identified for recycling?

In order to reuse recycled plastic for product manufacturing, it must first be separated by type. This is because some plastics simply cannot be melted with each other due to varying melting points and properties. If different plastic types are melted together, the resulting mixture is usually weak in structure and will solidify in layers.

Ideally, the recycled plastics should be separated by type and color.

Can you recycle all products marked with a plastic number?

Yes and no. While all plastics marked with a number can be recycled, not every facility can process them. In fact, most recycling centers will only take type 1 and type 2 plastics.

Note that while most grocery bags are made from type 2 plastic (HDPE), many recycling facilities are not capable of processing them. The reason is that grocery bags tend to tangle up in conveyor belts that clog up the recycling streamlines. Before putting any plastic grocery bags in the recycling bin, make sure the facility can handle them. A sure shot place to send grocery bags for recycling is large-scale supermarkets such as Vons.

Again, make sure you do your research before sending any plastic to recycling centers. If you send a recycling center something they cannot process, it may end up in landfills (depending on the facilities’ regulations).

Below is a list of plastic numbers, its plastic type, properties, and common usages:

Type 1 – PET / PETE
Properties: clear, impact-resistant, flexible, colorless plastic with excellent barrier to alcohol, gas and moisture.
Common Uses: soft drink, juice, and other toiletry bottles.

Type 2 – HDPE
Properties: tough, excellent barrier to gas, moisture, oils, solvents, and chemicals.
Common Uses: grocery bags, juice & milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent & bleach bottles, water pipes, children’s toys, playgrounds, large barrels used to store chemicals & oil.

Type 3 – PVC
Properties: tough, biologically and chemically resistant
Common Uses: rigid piping, vinyl records, electrical insulation

Type 4 – LDPE
Properties: flexibility, ease of sealing, barrier to moisture
Common Uses: grocery & garbage bags, cling wrap, frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, flexible container lids

Type 5 – PP
Properties: tough, resistant to heat, chemicals, grease and oil, versatile, and barrier to moisture
Common Uses: boxes, tupperware, microwaveable ware, disposable take-out containers, yogurt containers

Type 6 – PS
Properties: clear, easily formed
Common Uses: clear disposable cups, CD cases (the black and clear ones), packaging (Styrofoam)

Type 7 – Other (ABS, PC, etc…)

About the Author

I’m a plastic trader and processor and have more than 5 years experience working in the plastic recycling business in China.

Recently, I started a new blog, Recycled Plastic dot com, that covers my knowledge and experience in this field.

Recycled Plastic do com covers the latest news, stories, trends, products and resources relating to plastic and plastic recycling. It brings awareness to how plastic waste is endangering and poisoning our environment and steps we can take to reduce, reuse, and recycle. It aims to provide readers with an open forum for discussing these issues.

I hope you will enjoy what I have to write!