What do the recycling symbols mean?
Want the down low on the recycling symbols found on the bottom of plastic food and beverage containers? Here are a few good facts to remember: 1. Plastics are typically classified by one of seven recycling codes, indicating the type of resin used (the code is usually found at the bottom of containers and bottles), as follows: #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) Products: Soft drink bottles, medicine containers #2 high density polyethylene (HDPE) Products: Toys, bottles for milk, water, detergent, shampoo, motor oil #3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) Products: Pipe, meat wrap, cooking oil bottles #4 low density polyethylene (LDPE) Products: Wrapping films, grocery bags #5 polypropylene (PP) Products: Syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, diapers #6 polystyrene (PS) Products: Coffee cups, clam-shell take-out containers #7 other (usually polycarbonate) Products: Medical storage containers, some Nalgene water bottles 2. The safer plastics for storing food and drinks are #2HDPE, #4LDPE, and #5P
