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Different Recycling Codes & What They Mean

By Lenna Stockwell


In the United States, most products have a recycling code printed somewhere on the surface. This includes all types of packaging, including plastic packaging, cardboard packaging, glass and metal. Each of these codes identifies what materials were used to create the products and they are helpful to those who work at recycling facilities. Here is some information about the different codes and what they mean.

Whether they are a triangle created by three arrows and a number is placed inside the triangle the codes all look similar. What identifies the actual materials used though to make the item is the number that was written or embossed. For the plastics, the numbers that range 1 - 7 will refer to the resin identification codes that were used. So for example, polyethylene terephthalate, a triangle with the number 1 or 01 is used, which is a thermoplastic that is usually used for making products like soft drink bottles and water bottles. In addition to the seven numbers which are used, the number 9 also has been added (it's sometimes the letters ABS) and this is used identify a type of plastic often used to make cell phones and computers. This plastic is known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

Paper is another item that shows up in large amounts at recycling facilities. The numbers 20, 21, 22 and 23 are used to identify different types of paper products. A 20 identifies the item as cardboard, and 21 as paper such as magazines and mailed items. Regular paper, such as notebook and printer paper, is part of the category that is identified by number 22. Paperboard, which is thick paper used to make book covers, greeting cards and poster board is known by the number 23.

Metals are identified using either the number 40 or 41. The number 40 is used for items made of steel while number 41 was used for aluminum. ALU is used sometimes if the number 41 is not used for aluminum. Since aluminum is something that can be used again and again to create products it is the most recyclable metal on the planet. Even "tin" cans use aluminum to make them because of its vast supply, resistance to corrosion and malleability.

Wood, cork and cotton which are organic materials also have their own numbers for identification. The number 50 is used for wood as an example. The number 51 is used for cork and it is also not just used to cover bottles to preserve wine. You can also use cork for flooring, also for musical instruments and it can even be in printers. The number 60 is used for cotton and you would be surprised to learn that this material can be recycled too.

There is another material though that is separated by different categories and that is the glass which many recycling facilities identify them with ten different versions. Separated by color, glass is generally differentiated with categories like clear glass, green glass, dark glass and so on. There is also a section for composites which could include an item that is a combination of paper and plastic. In many places, only aluminum and plastics with a 1 or a 2 printed on them can be recycled, although potentially all thermoplastic packaging can be recycled, it's just a question of having a facility to recycle these materials.




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