Plastic codes are the numbers you find on the base of your shampoo bottle and the like.
They identify the type of plastic used to make the product.
Only the most common types of plastic are numbered – there are many more plastics than numbers and new plastics are being made all the time.
This symbol DOES not mean the product has been recycled.
For recycling purposes, (for now at least), it is essential to know which plastic is which.
All plastics should be properly identified.
Here are the current plastic codes and what they refer to.
PET or PETE (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic code 1
Clear drinks bottles, food packaging such as fruit punnets, textile fibres (polyester).
UK Collection Rates
PET bottles are collected by 92% of councils. Recycled PET is generally used in fabrics such as fleece, strapping and carpets. New technology allows PET to be recycled into new food packaging.
HDPE (High-density polyethylene) plastic code 2
Milk bottles, shampoo and cleaning product bottles. HDPE bottles are collected by 92% of councils.They are recycled into garden furniture, litter bins and pipes.
UK Collection Rates
New technology allows HDPE to be recycled into new milk bottles.
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) plastic code 3
Window frames, drainage pipes, shower curtains, clothing, toys, large squash bottles.
UK Collection Rates
Not generally collected from households for recycling. PVC use in packaging is in decline.
LDPE (Low density polyethylene) plastic code 4
Carrier bags, some bottles and containers, yokes holding four or six-packs of cans together, lining or laminating cardboard containers.
Carrier bags are collected by some supermarkets and recycled into low-grade uses such as bin bags.
UK Collection Rates
Not generally collected from households for recycling. However, mixed plastic recycling is expected to be under way within five years.
PP (Polypropylene) plastic code 5
Soup pots, margarine tubs, most bottle tops, waterproof clothing, carrier bags.
Not generally collected for household recycling, although it has good potential.
UK Collection Rates
However, mixed plastic recycling is expected to be under way within five years.
PS (Polystyrene) plastic code 6
Take away cups, yoghurt pots, cushioning of breakable objects in packaging.
UK Collection Rates
Not generally collected from households for recycling. Some commercial polystyrene is recycled.
Everything else plastic code 7
Other Includes acrylic glass (perspex), nylon and polycarbonate. Items made from a blend of plastics also fall into this category.
UK Collection Rates
Not currently collected
The collection rates are taken from this BBC article
To know more about the above plastics go to everything you ever wanted to know about plastic
To find out where you can recycle each kind of plastic, contact your waste disposal authority, or check the internet. Some recycling plants will accept plastics from the public and are interested in bulk supply from anywhere.
But better still don’t create any plastic trash…..