Plastics Recycling Symbols
The bad news: the packaging industry generates a great deal of plastic waste. The good news: Almost all types of plastics are recyclable. Here is a breakdown of the seven major categories of plastic – those numerals inside a triangle you see on many plastic materials and containers.
1 – PET, Polyethylene terephthalate. A common material used for bottled water, beer bottles, food trays, and many types of food containers. Easy to recycle in high demand for recycling into carpet, furniture, and many other products.
2 – HDPE, High density polyethylene. Most commonly used for milk containers, HDPE is used in many types of packaging films and food films. The material is easy to recycle and widely used to make a diverse range of products from patio furniture to drainage pipe.
3 – PVC, polyvinyl chloride. PVC is an extremely durable material and is used for chemical household products, construction materials, and industrial / food packaging materials. It is difficult to recycle and in low demand by recyclers. Because PVC contains chlorine, it can release dangerous toxins when heated or burned – use with care.
4 – LDPE, Low density polyethylene. Widely used in packaging for can liners, shopping bags, stretch films, dry cleaning bags, reclosable and plain poly bags, etc. Many curbside recycling programs are beginning to accept LDPE.
5 – PP, Polypropylene. A strong, heat resistant plastic, PP is used for microwavable food trays, ketchup bottles, yogurt containers, and a variety of packaging materials. It is typically recycled into battery cables, traffic signals, pallets, and bins.
6 – PS, Polystyrene. This is a rigid plastic material found in loosefill packing peanuts, foam trays and boxes, plastic cutlery, and CD jackets. Polystyrene is difficult to recycle and not widely accepted by recycling facilities, though demand is gradually increasing.
7 – Other. Special plastic compositions are used in products such as 3 gallon / 5 gallon water bottles, sunglasses, DVDs, and signage. These products are not generally recycled.
If your firm is looking for a way to recycle plastics, please contact us for more information. We encourage recycling and reuse of packaging materials whenever possible throughout Phoenix and Arizona.
________________________________________
Packaging Materials, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Solutions
Related posts:
