Identification Symbols of Plastics
to Facilitate Proper Recycling
There are many different types
of plastics, and each type requires
different handling in the
recycling process.
The next time you pick up a milk jug
or 2-litre plastic soft drink bottle, look
at the bottom. Do you see a triangle
made out of three arrows? This symbol
means that the plastic can be recycled.
Inside the triangle you will see a number
or perhaps an acronym made up of
several capital letters. The numbers and
acronyms are part of a coding system
that identifies what type of plastic the
item is made out of, and how it should
be handled in the recycling process.
The numbers shown inside the chasing
arrows refer to different types of
plastics used in making plastic products
and containers.
Identification
The manufacturers of plastics end-products
from either virgin or recycled plastics
are required to mark the symbol at
the time of processing in order to help
the waste collectors/re-processors to
identify the basic raw material. The symbols
defined by Society of the Plastics
Industry (SPI), USA are given below.
This is required because all types of
plastics are not compatible with each
other and hence if those are mixed together
proper recycling may not take
place.
*PET (Polyethylene
Terephthalate)
* PET is used in
the production
of packaged
drinking water
and soft drink bottles, etc.
* PET can be recycled into fibrefill
for sleeping bags, carpet fibers,
ropes, pillows, etc.
*HDPE (High Density
Polyethylene)
* HDPE is used
for manufacturing
raffia
bags, knitted
fabrics, water,
gas and sewer pipes, small volume
bottles to large barrels,
house-wares, storage bins,
caps and closures, shopping
bags etc.
* HDPE can be recycled into
flower pots, trash cans, traffic
cones, detergent bottles, soap
cases, other household items
etc.
....contd.
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