15
Oct
Ever wonder what those small numbers on the bottom of your plastic bottles and takeout containers mean. We all know that the triangle symbol on the bottom of plastic bottles means to recycle.
Theyre called Resin Identification Codes.
Numbers on bottom of plastic containers. Every plastic container or bottle has a recycling symbol. The symbol is a number ranging from 1 to 7 within a triangle. While you may think nothing of these symbols they can actually offer a great deal of information regarding the toxic chemicals used in the plastic how likely the plastic is to leach how bio-degradable the plastic is and ultimately the safety of the plastic.
There are 7 numbers 1 through 7 that may appear on the bottom of plastic bottles and food containers which with some numbers should be avoided at all costs. They are technically called resin identification codes and appear inside a little recycling symbol theyre hard to miss really. The most toxic plastics are 7 3 and 6.
Numbers on bottom of plastic containers Plastic is like trees. Its everywhere and you know it when you see it but you probably cant explain the difference between types. And why would you be able to.
Life is complicated enough without having to commit to memory the ways that HDPE differs from LDPE. Unless of course you work in the plastics recycling industry. At Miller Recycling.
Plastic 4 is the second one among the plastic numbers considered to be safe. Recycled plastic 4 is the main material for making paneling compost bins floor tiles trash can liners and cans and shipping envelopes. Plastic 5 PP Polypropylene.
Plastic containers and bottles have a number on the bottom ranging from 1 to 7 within a triangle shape. These numbers are actually very helpful in determining what chemicals were used in making the product if it will leach into the product and how long it will take to break down. The Numbers Behind Plastic Water Bottles Every plastic container or bottle has a recycling symbol ranging from 1 to 7 within a triangle.
You may think nothing of these symbols but they can offer a great deal of information regarding the toxic chemicals used in the plastic how bio-degradable the plastic is how likely the plastic is to leach and ultimately the safety of the plastic. The bottom indicator could be a mold identifier and in some cases it might be a shift indicator although this would typically be a clock going from 1 to 3 4 or 6 depending on how shifts are allocated rather than the example showing 0 to 5. This manufacturers datasheet on mold indicators.
7 plastics - Plastics-other includes polycarbonate plastics Nalgene Corp. Produces lexan water bottles - may leach BPA - Bisphenol-A health concerns. While BPA-containing plastic containers are expected to carry the 7 recycling label according to the New York Times 7 Sept.
2010 not all plastics labeled with recycling symbol 7 are in fact BPA-containing. A product made of plastic is often stamped with a resin code which is a number between one and seven inside a small triangle made of arrows. The presence of a resin code doesnt necessarily mean that the product can be recycled.
Its the number inside the triangle that counts because each number corresponds to a different type of plastic. Ever wonder what those small numbers on the bottom of your plastic bottles and takeout containers mean. Theyre called Resin Identification Codes—–.
Theyre called Resin Identification Codes. Have you ever looked at the bottom of a plastic container laundry detergent milk mustard etc. Many contain a number surrounded by a recycling symbol.
This code tells you which plastics are safe for recycling and general use and which are not. Most clear bottles soda water etc have the No. We all know that the triangle symbol on the bottom of plastic bottles means to recycle.
But what do the numbers inside the triangle mean. The recycling numbers range from 1 to 7 and stand. The number 2 on a plastic container means its made from high-density polyethylene or HDPE.
HDPE is used in bottles for milk juice liquid detergent bleach and cosmetics. HDPE is recycled into.