In This Section
- Overview
- Recycled products
- Fiber: Recycled vs Virgin
- Recycled Vs Never Used
- Paper vs Electronic
- Deciphering Recycling
- Direct Marketing is Greener
- Go Vinyl Free in 2010
- Quantifying Environmental Impact
- The Low-Carb Binder goes Beyond
- A "No-Vinyl Binders" Review
- UPS goes carbon neutral
- Eco-friendly, Recycled Tabs: The better choice
- Are Corporations Committed to Green?
- Variable Data Printing: An Overview
- From pURLs to Profit
- Digital vs. Print Media: Who is the Eco-Heavyweight?
- Broadcast your Green
- Making the Case for Books
- GreenFest Wrap-Up: DC Goes Green!
- 7 Reasons Print Will Make a Comeback in 2011
- How to Go Green: Office Edition
- Go Paper. Grow Trees.™
Just because an item contains a recycling symbol doesn’t always mean it is safe and easy to recycle. The numbers that appear within those recycling symbols are very important to recognize and understand.
RESIN NUMBERS
The single-digit numbers (1-7) contained within the recycling symbols are called “resin numbers”. Contrary to popular belief, these numbers do not identify how hard a material is to recycle; they simply are used to mark the specific type of plastic. Certain types of plastic are harder to recycle than others, and some cannot even be put in your everyday recycling bin.
WHAT THEY MEAN
1 (PETE - Polyethylene, Terephthalate)
Common uses: soda/water bottles, polyester fibers, food packaging.
Safe to recycle, but not re-usable.
2 (HDPE – High-density Polyethylene)
Common uses: Recycling bins, milk bottles, or motor oil.
Safe to recycle.
3 (PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride)
Common uses: toys, furnishings, plastic pipes, and non-food bottles.
4 (LDPE – Low-density Polyethylene)
Common uses: Grocery/sandwich bags, plastic wrap.
Safe to recycle.
5 (PP - Polypropylene)
Common uses: Clothes, tubs, auto parts, Endura binders.
Safe to recycle.
6 (PS - Polystyrene)
Common uses: Cups or food trays, packing peanuts, video cases.
7 (Other)
Various other applications such as bottles.
RECYCLE BY NUMBERS
Generally, items containing resin numbers of 1 or 2 are safe and can be placed in your recycling bin for curbside pick-up. Numbers 4 and 5, while marked safe, are not always picked up by waste management authorities. Different states and counties have varying guidelines, so it is always best to call your local authority to make sure before placing an item with a resin number of 4 or 5 in your curbside bin.
For the remaining resin numbers, they almost always cannot be placed in your curbside bin. To arrange pick-up for these types of plastics, call your local waste management service for names of companies that can recycle those types. Mixing un-recyclable products with recyclable products can cause more harm than good, and staying informed is key to doing the right thing. Happy sorting!
