Plastic Identification Codes

All plastic products have a Plastic Identification Codes – or PIC for short imprinted on to them somewhere, this is a plastic recycling symbols, made up of a circulating arrow in a triangle shape with a number between 1 & 7 in the centre. The PIC was implemented by the Society of the Plastic industry in 1988.

Type 1 is polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)  – Fizzy Drink Bottles / Oven Ready Meals

Type 2 is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) – Milk and Washing up Bottles

Type 3 is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) = Shampoo, Squash Bottles, Cling Film

Type 4 is low-density polyethylene (LDPE) – Carrier Bags & Bin Liners

Type 5 is polypropylene (PP) – Micro Meals & Margarine Tubs

Type 6 is polystyrene (PS) – Yoghurt Pots, Toys, Electronic Goods

Type 7 is other (usually PC or ABS) – Headlight Lenses, Safety Glasses, Melamine

So next time you put your waste plastic in the bin, see if you can spot the plastic identification code, currently there is no legal requirement for plastic manufacturers to label their products but the majority do so, possibly ahead of future legislation that may come in to force.

This information was brought to you by CK Polymers, one of the leading plastic recyclers in the UK