Plastic Identification Codes
There are many different types of plastics with a variety of properties and polymers. As a result, not all types of plastic can be recycled the same way. A universal system of Plastic Identification Codes (PIC) was developed to allow easy identification of the plastic:
Symbol | Polymer Type | Common Commercial Uses |
---|---|---|
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE) | Bottles for soft drinks, water, salad dressing and peanut butter |
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High-density polyethylene (HDPE) | Grocery bags, shampoo / toiletry bottles, milk, water pipes, five gallon buckets, hula hoop rings, juice and water bottles |