What does the number inside the three arrows symbol mean?
The plastics industry uses the numbers as a coding system to identify resin types. It is not meant to indicate recyclability. Of course, good recyclers are trained to look for the recycling symbol and the number, so it leads to confusion. Unfortunately you cannot use the symbol to determine whether or not a material is recyclable. Instead, follow Curb It! guidelines, not the labeling on the product. Technically, almost everything manufactured could be recyclable if there were a reliable end-buyer for the material. Therefore, for a material to be recyclable there has to be a demand for it on the market and a sufficient value to the resin to cover the cost of transportation to the market.
