Symbol |
Code |
Description |
Examples |
Plastics (see resin identification code[3]) [4] |
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#1 PET(E) |
Polyethylene terephthalate |
Polyester fibers, soft drink bottles |
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#2 PEHD or HDPE |
High-density polyethylene |
Plastic bottles, plastic bags, trash cans, imitation wood |
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#3 PVC |
Polyvinyl chloride |
Window frames, bottles for chemicals, flooring, plumbing pipes |
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#4 PELD or LDPE |
Low-density polyethylene |
Plastic bags, buckets, soap dispenser bottles, plastic tubes |
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#5 PP |
Polypropylene |
Bumpers, car interior trim, industrial fibers, carry-out beverage cups |
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#6 PS |
Polystyrene |
Toys, flower pots, video cassettes, ashtrays, trunks, beverage/food coolers, beer cups, wine and champagne cups, carry-out food containers, Styrofoam |
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#7 O (OTHER) |
All other plastics |
Polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylic plastics/polyacrylonitrile (PAN), bioplastics |
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#9 or #ABS |
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene |
Monitor/TV cases, coffee makers, cell phones, most computer plastic |
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PA |
Polyamide |
Nylon |
Batteries (see also battery recycling) |
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#8 Lead |
Lead–acid battery |
Car batteries |
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#9 or #19 Alkaline |
Alkaline battery |
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#10 NiCD |
Nickel–cadmium battery |
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#11 NiMH |
Nickel–metal hydride battery |
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#12 Li |
Lithium battery |
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#13 SO(Z) |
Silver-oxide battery |
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#14 CZ |
Zinc–carbon battery |
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Paper |
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#20 C PAP (PCB) |
Cardboard |
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#21 PAP |
Other paper |
Mixed paper magazines, mail |
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#22 PAP |
Wax Paper (single sided) |
McDonald's: fast food sandwich wrappers, meat packing, gum wrappers, some drink boxes, BetaMax boxes. |
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#23 PBD (PPB) |
Paperboard |
Greeting cards, frozen food boxes, book covers |
Metals |
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#40 FE |
Steel |
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#41 ALU |
Aluminium |
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Biomatter/Organic material |
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#50 FOR |
Wood |
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#51 FOR |
Cork |
Bottle stoppers, place mats, construction material |
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#60 COT |
Cotton |
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#61 TEX |
Jute |
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#62-69 TEX |
Other Textiles |
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Glass |
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#70 GLS |
Mixed Glass Container/Multi-Part Container |
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#71 GLS |
Clear Glass |
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#72 GLS |
Green Glass |
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#73 GLS |
Dark Sort Glass |
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#74 GLS |
Light Sort Glass |
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#75 GLS |
Light Leaded Glass |
Televisions, high-end electronics display glass |
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#76 GLS |
Leaded Glass |
Older televisions, ash trays, older beverage holders |
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#77 GLS |
Copper Mixed / Copper Backed Glass |
Electronics, LCD display heads, clocks, watches |
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#78 GLS |
Silver Mixed / Silver Backed Glass |
Mirrors, formal table settings |
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#79 GLS |
Gold Mixed / Gold Backed Glass |
Computer glass, formal table settings |
Composites (80—99) |
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#81 PapPet |
Paper + plastic |
Consumer packaging, pet food bags, cold store grocery bags, Icecream containers, cardboard cans, disposable plates |
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#82 |
Paper and fibreboard / Aluminium |
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#83 |
Paper and fibreboard / Tinplate |
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#84 C/PAP (or PapAl) |
Paper and cardboard / Plastic / Aluminium |
Liquid storage containers, juice boxes, cardboard cans, cigarette pack liners, gum wrappers, cartage shells for blanks, fireworks colouring material, Tetra Brik. |
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#85 |
Paper and fibreboard / plastic / aluminium / tinplate |
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#87 Card-stock Laminate |
Biodegradable plastic |
Laminating material, special occasion cards, bookmarks, business cards, flyers/advertising |
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#90 |
Plastics / Aluminium |
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#91 |
Plastic / Tinplate |
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#92 |
Plastic / Miscellaneous metals |
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#95 |
Glass / Plastic |
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#96 |
Glass / Aluminium |
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#97 |
Glass / Tinplate |
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#98 |
Glass / Miscellaneous metals |
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