Recycling by the Numbers

Shoppers will find at the bottom of most plastic containers a single digit number surrounded by the familiar recycling symbol. These codes were developed in 1988 by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) to differentiate types of plastics. Don't let the recycling symbol fool you--you may not be able to recycle all plastic. Most recycling centers will accept numbers 1 and 2. Whether other numbers will be accepted depends on the center. The following summarizes what those numbers mean:

	Polyethylene terephthalate. Examples: Soda and water bottles, medicine containers.
	High-density Polyethylene. Examples: bottles for milk, liquid laundry soap, dish detergent, bleach, shampoo, conditioner, and motor oil.
	Polyvinyl chloride. Examples: pipes, shower curtains, cooking oil bottles, baby bottle nipples, shrink wrap, coffee containers.
	Low-density Polyethylene. Examples: wrapping film, grocery bags, sandwich bags.
	Polypropylene. Examples: food storage containers, syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, outdoor carpet.
	Polystyrene. Examples: coffee cups, disposable flatware, bakery containers, meat trays, packing peanuts, styrofoam insulation.
	Any combination of 1-6 above or another less commonly used plastic.

 

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