Types of Plastic and Recycling

Ever wonder what those numbers represent printed on the recycling symbol on certain plastic items? Or who PETE is? Here is a table of the various types of recyclable plastics.

Type	Abbreviation	Full Name	Symbol	Examples
Type 1	PETE	Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)		Soda & water containers, some waterproof packaging.
Type 2	HDPE	High-Density Polyethylene		Milk, detergent & oil bottles. Toys and plastic bags.
Type 3	V	Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)		Food wrap, vegetable oil bottles, blister packages.
Type 4	LDPE	Low-Density Polyethylene		Many plastic bags. Shrink wrap, garment bags.
Type 5	PP	Polypropylene		Refrigerated containers, some bags, most bottle tops, some carpets, some food wrap.
Type 6	PS	Polystyrene		Throwaway utensils, meat packing, protective packing.
Type 7	OTHER	Usually layered or mixed plastic.		No recycling potential - must be land-filled.