RECYCLING SYMBOLS understanding Plastic recycling symbols


Plastic is a component of many consumer products, accounting for much of the manufacturing industry’s output and final produce. Not all plastics are the same, however, and this means that not all of them can be disposed of and recycled in the same manner.


1 PETE


Polyethylene Terephthalate


Clear, tough plastic 2 HDPE


High Density Polyethylene


Common white or coloured plastic


3 PVC Polyvinyl Chloride Hard, rigid plastic 4 LDPE


Low-Density Polyethylene


Soft, flexible plastic


5 PP


Polypropylene


Hard but flexible plastic


6 PS


Polystyrene / Expanded Polystyrene Soft, flexible plastic


All other plastics, including acrylic and nylon


7 Other Miscellaneous Plastics


Drinks bottles, plastic jars, prepared food trays


Milk containers, shampoo bottles, soap bottles, bleach bottles, detergent bottles


Non-food bottles, pipes, outdoor furniture, blister packaging, window frames


Cling film, sandwich bags, plastic bags, squeezable bottles (i.e. hand cream), dry cleaning bags


Yogurt pots,


margarine containers, plastic bottle caps, ketchup bottles, plastic dishes


Plastic cutlery, packing foam, yogurt pots, foam takeaway


packaging, meat trays


Compact discs, water cooler bottles, baby bottles. Polycarbonate (which contains BPA), composite plastics (crisp wrappers)


Widely recycled ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ Widely recycled


Not commonly recycled


Widely recycled Widely recycled


Not commonly recycled


70 Contact your local Alliance for more information (see back cover for details)


Due to the mixed nature, it is not possible to categorise this group as recyclable. However, some plastics that fall under this may be.


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