The **seven plastic recycling codes** are standardized numbers used to identify different types of plastic resins. Each type of plastic has unique properties, which affect its recyclability, safety, and potential applications. The codes help recyclers sort and process materials, and they give consumers information on how to dispose of plastic items responsibly. ![[Pasted image 20241023124500.png]] ## Here's a breakdown of each code: ### 1. PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate) - **Common Uses**: Beverage bottles, food jars, packaging for salad dressings, peanut butter containers. - **Properties**: Lightweight, clear, and relatively strong. - **Recycling**: Highly recyclable and often turned into new containers, fabric, carpets, and other consumer goods. - **Concerns**: Should not be reused extensively for food storage, as it can degrade with wear and leach chemicals. ### 2. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) - **Common Uses**: Milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, some grocery bags. - **Properties**: Durable, resistant to impact, and able to withstand higher temperatures than some other plastics. - **Recycling**: Widely recycled into new bottles, piping, and plastic lumber. - **Concerns**: Generally considered safe and stable, even with repeated use. ### 3. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - **Common Uses**: Plumbing pipes, clear food wrap, shrink wrap, medical tubing. - **Properties**: Strong, flexible, and resistant to chemicals and weathering. - **Recycling**: Difficult to recycle and is often not accepted by curbside programs. It can release harmful chemicals if incinerated. - **Concerns**: Contains chlorine and can release toxic chemicals like dioxins, especially when burned. ### 4. LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) - **Common Uses**: Plastic bags, bread bags, some food wraps, six-pack rings, squeezable bottles. - **Properties**: Flexible, tough, and resistant to moisture. - **Recycling**: Not as commonly recycled but can be repurposed into items like trash can liners and floor tiles. - **Concerns**: Generally considered safe but has limited recyclability through curbside programs. ### 5. PP (Polypropylene) - **Common Uses**: Yogurt containers, straws, bottle caps, takeout containers, prescription bottles. - **Properties**: Heat-resistant, durable, and versatile. - **Recycling**: Increasingly recyclable, often turned into items like battery cases, signal lights, and garden tools. - **Concerns**: Generally considered safe and stable; suitable for reuse in food storage. ### 6. PS (Polystyrene) - **Common Uses**: Disposable cups, plates, takeout containers, egg cartons, packing peanuts. - **Properties**: Lightweight and can be rigid or foam. - **Recycling**: Difficult to recycle, with limited facilities accepting it. Often ends up in landfills, where it can persist for centuries. - **Concerns**: Can leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen, especially when heated. ### 7. Other (Mixed Plastics or Polycarbonate and Others) - **Common Uses**: Multi-layer packaging, water bottles, some medical storage containers, electronics cases. - **Properties**: Varied; includes plastics that don't fit into categories 1-6, including bioplastics, polycarbonate, and acrylic. - **Recycling**: Often not recyclable, or only recyclable at specific facilities. This category can include a variety of resins, making it more challenging to process. - **Concerns**: Some plastics in this category, such as polycarbonate, may contain **BPA**, a chemical with potential health risks, especially in food-related products. ### Summary Table | Code | Resin | Common Products | Recyclability | Safety Concerns | |------|-------|---------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------| | 1 | PET | Water bottles, food jars | Highly recyclable | Safe for single-use only | | 2 | HDPE | Milk jugs, detergent bottles | Widely recyclable | Safe and stable | | 3 | PVC | Pipes, shrink wrap | Difficult to recycle | Releases toxins when burned | | 4 | LDPE | Plastic bags, food wraps | Limited recyclability | Generally safe | | 5 | PP | Yogurt cups, bottle caps | Increasingly recyclable | Safe and reusable | | 6 | PS | Disposable cups, egg cartons | Limited recyclability | Possible styrene leaching | | 7 | Other | Multi-layer packaging, electronics | Rarely recyclable | Depends on plastic type | Understanding these codes helps in making informed decisions about plastic use and disposal. Reducing single-use plastics and choosing easily recyclable types like PET and HDPE can contribute significantly to waste reduction and recycling efforts.![[Metabolism.052.jpeg]]