4/2/2014 Resin identification code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Sorted household plastic waiting to be hauled away

for reprocessing.

Polypropylene lid of a Tic

Tac box, with a living hinge

and the resin identification

code under its flap

Resin identification codeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Main article: Recycling codes

The SPI resin identification coding system is a set of symbols placed onplastics to identify the polymer type. It was developed by the Society of thePlastics Industry (SPI) in 1988, and is used internationally. The primarypurpose of the codes is to allow efficient separation of different polymer typesfor recycling. Separation must be efficient because the plastics must berecycled separately. Even one item of the wrong type of resin can ruin a mix.

The symbols used in the code consist of arrows that cycle clockwise to forma rounded triangle and enclosing a number, often with an acronymrepresenting the plastic below the triangle. When the number is omitted, thesymbol is known as the universal Recycling Symbol, indicating genericrecyclable materials. In this case, other text and labels are used to indicate thematerial(s) used. Previously recycled resins are coded with an "R" prefix (forexample, a PETE bottle made of recycled resin could be marked as RPETEusing same numbering).

The number does not indicate how hard the item is to recycle, nor how often the plastic wasrecycled. It is an arbitrarily assigned number that has no other meaning aside from identifying thespecific plastic.

The Unicode character encoding standard includes the resin identification codes, between codepoints U+2673 and U+2679 inclusive in the Miscellaneous Symbols block. The generic materialrecycling symbol is encoded as code point U+267A.

Contents

1 Table of resin codes

2 Availability of recycling facilities3 Possible new codes4 See also5 References

6 External links

Table of resin codes

Source:[1][2]

Recycling

numberImage Unicode

Alternate

imagesSymbol Abbreviation

Polymer

nameUses Recycling

Polyesterfibers (Polar

Fleece),

thermoformedsheet,

strapping, softdrink bottles,

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1 U+2673 PETE or PETPolyethylene

terephthalate

tote bags,

furniture,carpet,

paneling and

(occasionally)newcontainers.

(See also:Recycling ofPET bottles)

Picked up

through mostcurbside

recyclingprograms.

2 U+2674 HDPEHigh-density

polyethylene

Bottles,grocery bags,

milk jugs,

recycling bins,agricultural

pipe, base

cups, car

stops,playground

equipment,

and plastic

lumber

Picked up

through most

curbsiderecycling

programs,

although

some allowonly those

containers

with necks.

3 U+2675 PVC or VPolyvinyl

chloride

Pipe, fencing,

shower

curtains, lawn

chairs, non-

food bottles

and children'stoys.

Rarely

recycled;

accepted by

some plastic

lumbermakers.

4 U+2676 LDPELow-density

polyethylene

Plastic bags, 6

pack rings,various

containers,

dispensing

bottles, wash

bottles, tubing,and various

molded

laboratory

equipment

LDPE is not

often

recycledthrough

curbside

programs, but

some

communitieswill accept it.

Plastic

shopping

bags can be

returned to

many storesfor recycling.

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5 U+2677 PP Polypropylene

Auto parts,

industrial

fibers, food

containers,

and dishware

Number 5plastics can

be recycled

through some

curbside

programs.

6 U+2678 PS Polystyrene

Desk

accessories,

cafeteria trays,

plastic utensils,toys, video

cassettes and

cases,

clamshell

containers,packaging

peanuts, and

insulation

board and

otherexpanded

polystyrene

products (e.g.,

Styrofoam)

Number 6

plastics can

be recycledthrough some

curbside

programs.

7 U+2679 OTHER or O

Other plastics,

such as

acrylic, nylon,

polycarbonate,and polylactic

acid (a

bioplastic),

and multilayer

combinations

of differentplastics

Bottles, plastic

lumberapplications,

Headlight

lenses, and

safety

shields/glasses.

Number 7

plastics have

traditionally

not beenrecycled,

though some

curbside

programs

now takethem.

Availability of recycling facilities

Use of the recycling symbol in the coding of plastics has led to ongoing consumer confusion about which plastics are readilyrecyclable. In many communities throughout the United States, PETE and HDPE are the only plastics collected in municipal recycling

programs (e.g. Mackinaw City, Michigan[3]). 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.[4])

Possible new codes

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In 2007, a State Senate bill in California (SB 898) proposed adding a "0" code for compostable polylactic acid.[5] However, this

provision of the bill was removed before passage.[6][7]

See also

Linear low-density polyethylene

List of symbols

References

1. ^ "Plastic Packaging Resins" (http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/bin.asp?CID=1102&DID=4645&DOC=FILE.PDF).American Chemistry Council. Retrieved 2011-08-22.

2. ^ "What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean?" (http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/green-living/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321#slide-1). Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 2014-01-17.

3. ^ Mackinaw City (http://www.mackinawcity.org/dept-public-works-30/)

4. ^ "What is Recyclable" (http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/what_is_recyclable.htm) from the City of Los AngelesBureau of Sanitation website.

5. ^ http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_898&sess=CUR&house=B&author=simitian Full text and versionhistory of California State Senate Bill 898

6. ^ http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/current_legislation/sb898_07 Bill summary from Californians Against Waste, an environmentalgroup

7. ^ SB 898 Senate Bill - AMENDED (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0851-0900/sb_898_bill_20070906_amended_asm_v95.html)

External links

Recycling Symbols for Plastics (http://www.packaginggraphics.net/plastic-recycle-logos.htm) has symbols used in plastics

recycling available in various formats for use in graphics and packaging.Your Recycling Quandaries (http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/caq/articles/Fall2007/recyclingFAQ.cfm) Information from

Co-op America about what really happens when plastic is "recycled".

Resin Codes (http://plastics.americanchemistry.com/Education-Resources/Plastics-101/Plastics-Resin-Codes-PDF.pdf) from

the American Chemistry Council.

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Categories: Polymers Encodings Plastic recycling Consumer symbols

This page was last modified on 17 January 2014 at 12:32.

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