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What do the recycling symbols on plastic bottles mean?

In: Environmental Issues [Edit categories]

Answer:

These are not 'recycling' codes. They are "Resin Identification Codes" that tell what kind of plastic it is. The number inside the triangle which is embossed on the bottom of plastic containers identifies the type of plastic from which the container is made. The purpose for this is to make it easier for folks to sort and recycle. The lower the number the easier it is to recycle as well.

They do have a triangle with arrows, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can recycle them. It depends on your local area what plastics can be recycled.

#1 PET(E) Polyethylene Terephthalate. This is most common of the disposable water bottles.
#2 PE-HD High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), example milk jugs
#3 PVC Polyvinyl Chloride
#4 LD-PE Low-Density Polyethylene
#5 PP Polypropylene
#6 PS Polystyrene
#7 O(ther) plastic All other plastics. One popular example are the hard (usually Nalgene) coloured bottles, made with bisphenol-A (BPA).

More than ever people are concerned about the products in their lives, especially when it comes to plastic. There are concerns over the safety of some of the ingredients used in plastics, particularly bisphenol A. Fortunately there are codes on the bottom of all plastics which can help the health conscientious consumer stay informed.

See the link below for more information on what the codes mean and a guide to which plastics should be avoided due to potential toxicity.

Note: There are comments associated with this question. See the discussion page to add to the conversation.

First answer by Ksmail. Last edit by Fdalpete. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 77 [recommend question].

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Relevant answers:

How much do you get for recycling plastic bottles?
You Will get about 5 cents each bottle you recycle. *Actually you have to pay to get them recycled in Oklahoma. * in Michigan it is worth ten cents every other state 4-5 cents
What is the recycling symbol mean?
The three arrows represent Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. It just means by reducing waste, reusing resources, and recycling, we help the environment.
What does the 5 in the recycling symbol mean?
it's what type of plastic or glass it is
What is the process of recycling a plastic bottle?
When you recycle it it goes back to the bottle making factories and they melt it down to a liquid, put it in a mold , wait for it to cool and they sell the bottles over again.
What does the recycling symbol mean?
To recycle There are 3 arrows in the recycle symbol.