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The resin identification code (what appears to be the recycling symbol with a number in the middle) appearing on your plastic bottles refers to the type of plastic used in the bottle.
What does the number found on plastic bottles indicate?
At the bottom of most plastic containers you can find a small number inside the three arrow triangle recycling symbol. This number is a reference to what type of plastic the container is made of. The most widely accepted plastics for recycling are number 1 and 2, also most of plastic containers are type 1 and 2.
What are resin numbers?
Plastic Resin Codes The number indicates the type of plastic the item is made from. They are called a plastic or resin identification code. Whether it can be recycled or not depends on the recycling systems where you live.
What are various resin identification codes for plastics?
Number 1 Code – Polyethylene Terephthalate, PETE Figure 1. Symbol for PETE plastics. Name of Plastic – Polyethylene Terephthalate, PET or PETE. Figure 2. Name of Plastic – High Density Polyethylene, HDPE. Figure 3. Name of Plastic – Polyvinyl Chloride, PVC. Figure 4. Name of Plastic – Low Density Polyethylene, LDPE.
How do you read plastic codes?
Plastics by the Numbers #1 – PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) #2 – HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) #3 – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) #4 – LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) #5 – PP (Polypropylene) #6 – PS (Polystyrene) #7 – Other (BPA, Polycarbonate and LEXAN).
What does the number 1 mean on the bottom of a plastic bottle?
Plastic number 1 refers to polyethylene terephthalate which is one of the most generally used thermoplastic polymer resin. Well, plastic 1 is most frequently used in water and beverages bottles, food jars and containers, salad dressing and oil bottles, clothes fiber, mouthwash bottles.
What are the different resin identification codes?
Table of resin codes Recycling number Abbreviation Polymer name 1 PETE or PET Polyethylene terephthalate 2 HDPE or PE-HD High-density polyethylene 3 PVC or V Polyvinyl chloride 4 LDPE or PE-LD Low-density polyethylene, Linear low-density polyethylene.
What is a plastic code?
A product made of plastic is often stamped with a resin code, which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The presence of a resin code doesn’t necessarily mean that the product can be recycled.
What is identification code given codes and its significance?
Identification codes now provide a means of unique addressing all the entities and processes that make up everyday life — people, material objects, information, transactions and territories. The use of codes and linkage to information systems are specified.
What does a resin identification code tell you?
A plastic resin code, or ‘Resin Identification Code’, shows the consumer which type of plastic resin was used to make the chosen product, whether that be a plastic bottle, container or jug.
What are resin codes used for?
Resin codes were developed in 1988, by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), to help standardize the materials used in different plastic products. Plastic products that are labeled with a resin identification code can be more easily identified and recycled or disposed of accordingly.
How do you identify plastic?
A more scientific way of identifying plastic is the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which is used for qualitatively and quantitatively determining the presence of specific chemical groups, e.g. C=O, or C-H, or C-CH3 in a plastic material.
How can you tell the quality of a plastic bottle?
Check on the bottom of the bottle there is a triangle sign and there will be a number on it. If the number is higher than or equal to 5 –> then this bottle is safe to use. Whatever number under 5, will release the chemical. For most bottle water, the number is 1.
Which plastic number is safe?
Although, the best is to avoid plastic usage at all, if you have to use it, there are certain codes that are safer than the others. Generally, codes 2, 4 and 5 are better than code 1, 3, 6 and 7.
Which plastic grade is safe for water bottles?
High-density polyethylene, or HDPE (No. 2); low-density polyethylene, or LDPE (No. 4); and polypropylene (No. 5) are also used for drinking containers, though less frequently.
What does a 5 on the bottom of plastic mean?
A 5 inside the triangle indicates the plastic is polypropylene or PP. It is commonly found in medicine bottles, straws, bottle caps, ketchup bottles and syrup bottles, and some yogurt containers. This plastic is often chosen for bottles and containers that must accept hot liquids as it has a high melting point.
What are number 1 and number 2 plastics?
The terms “plastic #1” and “plastic #2” refer to a plastic container’s resin identification code. #1 and #2 plastics are accepted into nearly every drop-off and curb- side recycling program because there is strong post-consumer demand for them from manufacturers.
What does the 2 mean on the bottom of a plastic bottle?
High-density polyethylene is designated “2,” a sturdier plastic that can accommodate heavier products like a gallon of milk or laundry detergent. Low-density polyethylene (“4”), in contrast, is pretty flimsy, and you’ll typically find it used for grocery bags or shrink-wrap.
Are resin identification codes required?
California law (Public Resources Code section 18000 et seq) requires that rigid plastic containers sold in California be labeled with a code to identify the resin used.
Which one of the following resin codes in plastic items is safe?
The three safer resin codes of plastics and their features are : The ASTM International Resin Identification Coding System, abbreviated as RIC.• Three safer resin codes of plastics are : PETE – Polyethylene terephthalate. HDPE – High-density polyethylene. PVC or V – Polyvinyl chloride.
Why are plastics labeled 1 7?
Recyclable plastics are labeled with numbers 1-7 to tell workers what kind of plastic it is, and how it should be processed. But it also helps recycling collectors determine what items they can accept — and which ones go in the trash.
