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'{{main|Recycling codes}} {{Refimprove|date= September 2011}} {{merge to|Recycling codes|date=June 2012}} [[File:Recyclables.JPG|thumb|300px|Sorted household plastic waiting to be hauled away for reprocessing.]] [[File:Mint box polypropylene lid.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Polypropylene]] lid of a [[Tic Tac]] box, with a [[living hinge]] and the resin identification code under its flap]] The '''SPI resin identification coding system''' is a set of symbols placed on [[plastic]]s to identify the polymer type. It was developed by the [[Society of the Plastics Industry]] (SPI) in 1988, and is used internationally. The primary purpose of the codes is to allow efficient separation of different [[polymer]] types for [[recycling]]. Separation must be efficient because the plastics must be recycled 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 form a rounded triangle and enclosing a number, often with an acronym representing the plastic below the triangle. When the number is omitted, the symbol is known as the universal [[Recycling symbol|Recycling Symbol]], indicating generic recyclable materials. In this case, other text and labels are used to indicate the material(s) used. Previously recycled resins are coded with an "R" prefix (for example, a ''PETE'' bottle made of recycled resin could be marked as ''RPETE'' using same numbering). The number does not indicate how hard the item is to recycle, nor how often the plastic was recycled. It is an arbitrarily assigned number that has no other meaning aside from identifying the specific plastic. The [[Unicode]] character encoding standard includes the resin identification codes, between code points U+2673 and U+2679 inclusive in the [[Miscellaneous Symbols]] block. The generic material [[recycling symbol]] is encoded as code point U+267A. ==Table of resin codes== Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/bin.asp?CID=1102&DID=4645&DOC=FILE.PDF |title=Plastic Packaging Resins |publisher=American Chemistry Council |accessdate=2011-08-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/green-living/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321#slide-1 |title=What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean? |publisher=Good Housekeeping |accessdate=2014-01-17 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Recycling number !Image ![[Unicode]] !Alternate images !Symbol !Abbreviation !Polymer name !Uses !Recycling |- | style="text-align:center; font-size:24px" | '''1''' | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2673 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2673;]] | U+2673 | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:Resin-identification-code-1-PETE.svg|50px|1-PETE]]<br><br>[[File:Plastic-recyc-01.svg|60px]] | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | ♳ | '''PETE''' or '''PET''' | [[Polyethylene terephthalate]] | Polyester fibers (Polar Fleece), thermoformed sheet, strapping, soft drink bottles, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling and (occasionally) new containers. (See also: [[Recycling of PET bottles]]) | Picked up through most curbside recycling programs. |- | style="text-align:center; font-size:24px" | '''2''' | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2674 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2674;]] | U+2674 | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2674 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2674;]]<br><br>[[File:Plastic-recyc-02.svg|60px]] | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | ♴ | '''HDPE''' | [[High-density polyethylene]] | Bottles, grocery bags, milk jugs, recycling bins, agricultural pipe, base cups, car stops, playground equipment, and [[plastic lumber]] | Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks. |- | style="text-align:center; font-size:24px" | '''3''' | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2675 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2675;]] | U+2675 | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:Resin-identification-code-3-V.svg|50px|PVC]]<br><br>[[File:Plastic-recyc-03.svg|60px]] | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | ♵ | '''PVC''' or '''V''' | [[Polyvinyl chloride]] | Pipe, fencing, shower curtains, lawn chairs, non-food bottles and children's toys. | Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers. |- | style="text-align:center; font-size:24px" | '''4''' | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2676 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2676;]] | U+2676 | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:Resin-identification-code-4-LDPE.svg|50px|&#x2676;]]<br><br>[[File:Plastic-recyc-04.svg|60px]] | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | ♶ | '''LDPE''' | [[Low-density polyethylene]] | Plastic bags, 6 pack rings, various containers, dispensing bottles, [[wash bottle]]s, tubing, and various molded laboratory equipment | LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling. |- | style="text-align:center; font-size:24px" | '''5''' | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2677 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2677;]] | U+2677 | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:Resin-identification-code-5-PP.svg|50px|&#x2677;]]<br><br>[[File:Plastic-recyc-05.svg|60px]] | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | ♷ | '''PP''' | [[Polypropylene]] | Auto parts, industrial fibers, food containers, and dishware | Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs. |- | style="text-align:center; font-size:24px" | '''6''' | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2678 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2678;]] | U+2678 | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[File:Resin-identification-code-6-PS.svg|50px|&#x2678;]]<br><br>[[File:Plastic-recyc-06.svg|60px]] | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | ♸ | '''PS''' | [[Polystyrene]] | Desk accessories, cafeteria trays, plastic utensils, toys, video cassettes and cases, clamshell containers, packaging peanuts, and insulation board and other [[Polystyrene#Solid_foam|expanded polystyrene]] products (e.g., [[Styrofoam]]) | Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs. |- | style="text-align:center; font-size:24px" | '''7''' | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:U+2679 DejaVu Sans.svg|50px|&#x2679;]] | U+2679 | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | [[Image:Resin-identification-code-7-OTHER.svg|50px|&#x2679;]]<br><br>[[File:Plastic-recyc-07.svg|60px]] | style="text-align:center; font-size:50px" | ♹ | '''OTHER''' or '''O''' | Other plastics, such as [[Polymethyl methacrylate|acrylic]], [[nylon]], [[polycarbonate]], and [[polylactic acid]] (a [[bioplastic]]), and multilayer combinations of different plastics | Bottles, [[plastic lumber]] applications, [[Headlight]] lenses, and [[Safety glasses|safety shields/glasses]]. |Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them. |} ==Availability of recycling facilities== {{globalize/US|section|date=December 2010}} Use of the recycling symbol in the coding of plastics has led to ongoing consumer confusion about which plastics are readily recyclable. In many communities throughout the United States, PETE and HDPE are the only plastics collected in municipal recycling programs (e.g. [[Mackinaw City, Michigan]]<ref>[http://www.mackinawcity.org/dept-public-works-30/ Mackinaw City]</ref>). 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.<ref>[http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/what_is_recyclable.htm "What is Recyclable"] from the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation website.</ref>) ==Possible new codes== In 2007, I FUCKED a State Senate bill in California (SB 898) proposed adding a "0" code for compostable [[polylactic acid]].<ref>http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_898&sess=CUR&house=B&author=simitian Full text and version history of California State Senate Bill 898</ref> However, this provision of the bill was removed before passage.<ref>http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/current_legislation/sb898_07 Bill summary from Californians Against Waste, an environmental group</ref><ref>[http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0851-0900/sb_898_bill_20070906_amended_asm_v95.html SB 898 Senate Bill - AMENDED<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==See also== * [[Linear low-density polyethylene]] * [[List of symbols]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Resin identification codes}} * [http://www.packaginggraphics.net/plastic-recycle-logos.htm Recycling Symbols for Plastics] has symbols used in plastics recycling available in various formats for use in graphics and packaging. * [http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/caq/articles/Fall2007/recyclingFAQ.cfm Your Recycling Quandaries] Information from Co-op America about what really happens when plastic is "recycled". * [http://plastics.americanchemistry.com/Education-Resources/Plastics-101/Plastics-Resin-Codes-PDF.pdf Resin Codes] from the American Chemistry Council. {{Plastics}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Resin Identification Code}} [[Category:Polymers]] [[Category:Encodings]] [[Category:Plastic recycling]] [[Category:Consumer symbols]] [[nl:Kunststofidentificatiecode]]'