Resin identification code
70154
222797753
2008-07-01T04:20:29Z
Sjb0926
665575
proved grammar and clarity in third para of lead.
[[Image:Plastic recycle.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Sorted household plastic waiting to be hauled away for reprocessing.]]
[[Image:Mint box polypropylene lid.JPG|thumb|150px|[[Polypropylene]] lid of a [[Tic Tacs]] box, with a [[living hinge]] and the resin identification code under its flap]]
The symbols in the table below belong to the '''SPI resin identification coding system''', developed by the [[Society of the Plastics Industry]] in 1988.
Most [[plastics]] can be [[recycling|recycled]], but they have to be separated into their different [[polymer]] types. Because of the difficulty and expense of sorting, collecting, cleaning and reprocessing, at the moment it is only economically viable to recycle [[PETE]] and [[HDPE]]. [[Thermoplastics]] can be remelted, but [[thermosetting plastics]] can only be crushed and used as insulation.
The symbols used in the code consist of arrows that cycle clockwise to form a rounded triangle and enclosing a number, often with an acronym representing the plastic below the triangle. When the number is omitted, the symbol is known as the universal [[Recycling Symbol]], indicating generic recyclable materials. In this case, other text and labels are used to indicate the material(s) used. Previously recycled resins are coded with an "R" prefix (for example, a PETE bottle made of recycled resin could be marked as RPETE using same numbering).
Contrary to misconceptions, the number does not indicate how hard the item is to recycle, nor how often the plastic was recycled. It's an arbitrary number and has no other meaning aside from identifying the specific plastic.
The [[Unicode]] character encoding standard includes the resin identification codes, between code points U+2673 and U+2679 inclusive. The generic material [[recycling symbol]] is encoded as code point U+267A.
==Table of resin codes==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Recycling No.
!Abbreviation
!Polymer Name
!Uses once recycled
|-
| style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2673 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|♳]]
| '''PETE or PET'''
| [[Polyethylene terephthalate]]
| Polyester fibres, thermoformed sheet, strapping, soft drink bottles.
(See also: [[Recycling of PET Bottles]])
|-
| style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2674 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|♴]]
| '''HDPE'''
| [[High density polyethylene]]
| Bottles, grocery bags, recycling bins, agricultural pipe, base cups, car stops, playground equipment, and [[plastic lumber]].
|-
| style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2675 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|♵]]
| '''PVC or V'''
| [[Polyvinyl chloride]]
| Pipe, fencing, and non-food bottles.
|-
| style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2676 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|♶]]
| '''LDPE'''
| [[Low density polyethylene]]
| Plastic bags, various containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing, and various molded laboratory equipment.
|-
| style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2677 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|♷]]
| '''PP'''
| [[Polypropylene]]
| Auto parts, industrial fibers, food containers.
|-
| style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2678 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|♸]]
| '''PS'''
| [[Polystyrene]]
| Desk accessories, cafeteria trays, toys, video cassettes and cases, insulation board and [[Polystyrene#Solid_foam|expanded polystyrene]] products (e.g. [[Styrofoam]]).
|-
| style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2679 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|♹]]
| '''OTHER'''
| Other plastics, including [[acrylonitrile butadiene styrene]] [[Polymethyl methacrylate|acrylic]], [[polycarbonate]], [[polylactic acid]], [[nylon]] and [[fiberglass]].
|
|}
==Availability of recycling facilities==
Use of the recycling symbol in the coding of plastics has led to ongoing consumer confusion about which plastics are readily recyclable. In most communities throughout the United States, PETE and HDPE are the only plastics collected in municipal recycling programs. Some regions, though, are expanding the range of plastics collected as markets become available. (Los Angeles, for example, recycles all clean plastics numbered 1 through 7.<ref>http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/what_is_recyclable.htm "What is Recyclable" from the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation website.</ref>)
==Possible new codes==
In 2007, a State Senate bill in California (SB 898)<ref>http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_898&sess=CUR&house=B&author=simitian Full text and version history of California State Senate Bill 898</ref> proposed adding a "0" code for compostable [[polylactic acid]]. However, this provision of the bill was removed before passage.<ref>http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/current_legislation/sb898_07 Bill summary from Californians Against Waste, an environmental group</ref>
<ref>http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0851-0900/sb_898_bill_20070906_amended_asm_v95.html</ref>
==See also==
*[[Bisphenol A]]
*[[International Universal Recycling Codes]]
*[[Phthalate]]
*[[Plastics#Negative_health_effects|Plastic's negative health effects]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.packaginggraphics.net/plastic-recycle-logos.htm Recycling Symbols for Plastics] has symbols used in plastics recycling available in various formats for use in graphics and packaging.
* [http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/caq/articles/Fall2007/recyclingFAQ.cfm Your Recycling Quandaries] Information from Co-op America about what really happens when plastic is "recycled".
* [http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/PVC-Disguise-Greenpeace1992.htm#8 PVC: Toxic Waste in Disguise.]
[[Category:Polymers]]
[[Category:Recycling]]
[[Category:Encodings]]
[[fr:Code d'identification des résines]]
[[zh:塑膠分類標誌]]