Have you ever considered what these embossed marks in plastic containers or appliance parts signify? Once in a while, we find ourselves confused about the purpose of these recycling symbols and their connection to sanitation and health issues.
Plastic recycling symbols indicate the forms of resin utilized to create the material. These designs are fixed following the international Plastic Coding System, and are regularly delineated as a number (from 1 through 7) bounded by a triangle or a plain triangular loop (also known as the Mobius loop), with an acronym of the particular resin used, right below the loop.
Here are short definitions of all of the 7 recycling icons widely used, at present:
1 - PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene)
Light weight, low-priced, and easy to create, Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene is the most prevalent plastic resin in use today. PET is primarily used in soft drink bottles, food containers, and peanut butter containers. It can be remade into car parts, tote bags, carpet, etc. The requirement for this material among recyclers is fairly high, but at the moment, the recycling rate for this material has remained low at 20%.
2 - HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
High Density Polyethylene is stronger and susceptible to chemical decomposition, this material presents a fairly minimal chance of draining chemicals when used as container for food and drinks. It is chiefly used as containers for everyday household chemicals (shampoos, detergents, etc.), garbage bags, containers for short shelf life food products like yogurt, etc. This can be reused into toys, drainage, plastic lumber, benches, etc.
3 - PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Polyvinyl Chloride has been identified as a health hazard - it has been noted to frequently leach toxins when used as containers. PVC is mainly used for piping, clear food packaging, siding, etc. It contains chlorine and will let off toxins if ignited. PVC should be excluded in food preparation or food packaging. It can be reconstituted into mudflaps, roadway gutters, binders, etc.
4 - LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene )
Low Density Polyethylene is manufactured into squeezable bottles, apparels, carpets, etc. Tough but also stretchable, it is ideal for packaging, insulation, and sealing. LDPE, through many curbside recycling programs, can be reconstituted into trash can liners, plastic lumber, and plastic lumber.
5 - PP (Polypropylene)
Polypropylene is most suited for boiling fluid receptacles and is likewise manufactured into brooms, battery cables, ketchup bottles, etc. PP can be reused into signal lights, battery cables, bicycle racks, etc.
6 - PS (Polystyrene)
Polystyrene is the standard component for insulation and is used in foam products like expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as styrofoam. It is manufactured into disposable food containers, egg cartons, aspirin bottles. PS contains benzene, a human carcinogen and should not be burned. It is reprocessed into insulation, packaging, plant beds, etc.
7 - OTHER (Polycarbonate)
Recycling symbol 7 - OTHER represents materials not belonging to any of the other 6 resin classifications. OTHER may also signify a hybrid resin made up of a mix of those materials. It is widely found in infant feeding containers, milk can liners, camping bottles, computer cases, etc. It can be recycled into plastic timber and other custom-made items.
Not all number 7 plastics are polycarbonate, a few are even fully biodegradable. Polycarbonate has become the axis of a regulatory firestorm in recent years, as it is found to discharge BPA (bisphenol A), a hormonal disruptor that may negatively impact child-bearing and fetal growth.
Plastic recycling symbols are drawn chiefly to assist the technicians in recycling establishments in properly distributing materials for disposal. A rudimentary understanding of these emblems can also serve us in ascertaining if the plastic item were using in our houses are risk-free for us and our families.
Original Article by:
Joseph Campbell
Oklahoma City, 2009
Joseph Campbell is a writer for the Pacebutler Recycling and Environmental blog. Pacebutler Corporation based Edmond, Oklahoma is a US cell phone trading company that pays cash for cell phones, in an online transaction. If you just want to dispose of your old cell phones in an environmentally-friendly manner, you may also recycle cell phones through Pacebutler.
