In the United States, most products have a recycling code printed somewhere on the surface. This includes all types of packaging, including plastic packaging, cardboard packaging, glass and metal. Each of these codes identifies what materials were used to create the products and they are helpful to those who work at recycling facilities. Here is some information about the different codes and what they mean.
Whether they are a triangle created by three arrows and a number is placed inside the triangle the codes all look similar. What identifies the actual materials used though to make the item is the number that was written or embossed. For the plastics, the numbers that range 1 - 7 will refer to the resin identification codes that were used. So for example, polyethylene terephthalate, a triangle with the number 1 or 01 is used, which is a thermoplastic that is usually used for making products like soft drink bottles and water bottles. In addition to the seven numbers which are used, the number 9 also has been added (it's sometimes the letters ABS) and this is used identify a type of plastic often used to make cell phones and computers. This plastic is known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
Another item which shows up in big stacks at recycling facilities is paper. Among the numbers which are used to identify different types of paper products are 20, 21, 22 and 23. For the cardboard it is identified as by 20 and paper like magazines and mailed items are registered as 21. Number 22 signifies the regular paper like the notebook and printer paper. Number 23 is used for the paperboard which is thick paper that is used for making book covers, greeting cards and poster board.
Metals are known either as number 40 or 41. 40 indicates that the item was made out of steel, while number 41 means that the product was made from aluminum. Sometimes aluminum is not identified by a 41, but by the numbers ALU. Aluminum is highly recyclable and can be used again and again to create products. Because of its abundance and malleability, almost all "tin" cans actually are produced using aluminum.
Organic materials such as wood, cork and cotton also have their own number designations. For example, wood has been given a code of 50. Cork is listed as number 51 and it's not just used to preserve wine. Cork is also used for flooring, in musical instruments and sometimes even in printers. Cotton is designated as number 60 and you might be surprised to know that some cotton actually can be recycled.
There is another material though that is separated by different categories and that is the glass which many recycling facilities identify them with ten different versions. Separated by color, glass is generally differentiated with categories like clear glass, green glass, dark glass and so on. There is also a section for composites which could include an item that is a combination of paper and plastic. In many places, only aluminum and plastics with a 1 or a 2 printed on them can be recycled, although potentially all thermoplastic packaging can be recycled, it's just a question of having a facility to recycle these materials.
Whether they are a triangle created by three arrows and a number is placed inside the triangle the codes all look similar. What identifies the actual materials used though to make the item is the number that was written or embossed. For the plastics, the numbers that range 1 - 7 will refer to the resin identification codes that were used. So for example, polyethylene terephthalate, a triangle with the number 1 or 01 is used, which is a thermoplastic that is usually used for making products like soft drink bottles and water bottles. In addition to the seven numbers which are used, the number 9 also has been added (it's sometimes the letters ABS) and this is used identify a type of plastic often used to make cell phones and computers. This plastic is known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
Another item which shows up in big stacks at recycling facilities is paper. Among the numbers which are used to identify different types of paper products are 20, 21, 22 and 23. For the cardboard it is identified as by 20 and paper like magazines and mailed items are registered as 21. Number 22 signifies the regular paper like the notebook and printer paper. Number 23 is used for the paperboard which is thick paper that is used for making book covers, greeting cards and poster board.
Metals are known either as number 40 or 41. 40 indicates that the item was made out of steel, while number 41 means that the product was made from aluminum. Sometimes aluminum is not identified by a 41, but by the numbers ALU. Aluminum is highly recyclable and can be used again and again to create products. Because of its abundance and malleability, almost all "tin" cans actually are produced using aluminum.
Organic materials such as wood, cork and cotton also have their own number designations. For example, wood has been given a code of 50. Cork is listed as number 51 and it's not just used to preserve wine. Cork is also used for flooring, in musical instruments and sometimes even in printers. Cotton is designated as number 60 and you might be surprised to know that some cotton actually can be recycled.
There is another material though that is separated by different categories and that is the glass which many recycling facilities identify them with ten different versions. Separated by color, glass is generally differentiated with categories like clear glass, green glass, dark glass and so on. There is also a section for composites which could include an item that is a combination of paper and plastic. In many places, only aluminum and plastics with a 1 or a 2 printed on them can be recycled, although potentially all thermoplastic packaging can be recycled, it's just a question of having a facility to recycle these materials.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves blogging about how stuff is made. To get further details about custom plastic packaging solutions or to find out more about food packaging design, please go to the Indepak site now.