#1 (PET or PETE) Polyethylene
Terephthalate
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Carbonated drink bottles, deli
containers, medicine containers.
Usually clear.
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Do not use if container has
become heated. May be recycled
into T-shirts, carpeting, pillow
stuffing...
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#2 (HDPE) High Density
Polyethylene
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Bleach, oil, milk, detergent and
shampoo bottles. Hard, often colored.
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Recycled into new bottles,
binders, fencing, plastic
lumber...Recycled into new
bottles, binders, fencing, plastic
lumber...
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#3 (PVC) Polyvinyl Chloride
Sometimes marked V
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Plumbing pipe, squeeze bottles, vinyl
shower curtains, auto interiors,
gutters, house siding, flooring, rain
gear, credit cards.
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Worst for the environment.
Rarely recycled. Difficult to
recycle. Pollutes landfills.
Recycled into building supplies..
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#4 (LDPE) Low Density
Polyethylene
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Cling wrap, grocery-garbage bags,
bread and storage bags. Flexible and
waxy.
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Rarely recycled. Can be recycled
into bags, plastic lumber...
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Syrup bottles, margarine tubs, yogurt
containers, diapers, toothbrushes,
outdoor furniture and carpeting.
Usually opaque.
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Recycles into car parts, milk
crates...
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Coffee cups, take-out containers,
home insulation, egg cartons. Can be
clear or foamed.
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Recycles into rulers, desk
accessories, license plate frames,
light switch plates.
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#7 other
(polycarbonate always grouped
here)
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Ketchup bottles, reuse water bottles,
baby bottles, storage containers.
Catch-all for 'other' plastics or a mix
of plastics.
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Try not to use
polycarbonate(PC)=BPA
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No such code yet. Might be a good
label for organic plastics though.
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