Have you ever wondered what those recycling numbers you see on the bottom of most plastic containers mean? Many people think that it means the container itself has been recycled or how many times it can be used, but that’s not the case.
The number is actually used to identify different types of plastics, and groups them by how easy they are to recycle. Generally speaking, lower numbers are easier to recycle vs. higher numbers.
Here’s a quick summary of examples of each type of plastic.
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Polyethylene terephthalate: Soda bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing, vinegar bottles, medicine containers, backing for photography film. -
High-density Polyethylene: Containers for household cleaners, fabric softeners, bleach, milk, shampoo, conditioner, motor oil, various toys. -
Polyvinyl cloride: Pipes, fencing, shower curtains, meat wraps, baby bottle nipples, shrink wrap, and clear medical tubing. -
Low-density Polyethylene: Plastic bags, 6-pack rings, sandwich bags. -
Polypropylene: Auto-parts, some Tupperware®, syrup bottles, dishware, diapers, outdoor carpet. -
Polystyrene: Packing materials, plastic utensils, video cassettes, insulation, and coffee cups. Types of this plastic are more commonly known as sytrofoam. -
Other: Products labeled as “other” are made of any combination of 1-6 or less commonly used plastic. It is in this category that you have to be careful of BPA.
Our Good Boxes are made of type 2 plastic. We decided to use bins made of this type of plastic, since it’s relatively easy to recycle, yet is strong and durable.
For more information about recycling numbers, visit the following websites:
http://pslc.ws/macrog/work/recycle.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code