Recycling Plastic
Plastic Identification
Symbols are used to identify important commercial polymers used in packaging. The symbol consists of a number inside a triangle. This symbol is normally found near or on the bottom of the container. However on coffee cup lids the symbol is found on the top.
| Symbol | Name | Rotating molecule | Examples |
|
|
Polyethylene terephthalate | Plastic bottles, meat packaging | |
|
|
High density polyethylene | Milk bottles, detergent bottles, oil bottles, toys, plastic bags | |
|
|
Polyvinyl chloride | Vegetable oil bottles, blister packaging | |
|
|
Low density polyethylene | Plastic bags, shrink-wrap | |
|
|
Polypropylene | Margarine containers, yoghurt containers | |
|
|
Polystyrene | Egg cartons, fast food trays | |
|
|
All other resins, for example, PMMA in the cell to the right | Multi-resin containers, microelectronic components |
