Recycling plastic bottles

I'm sure everyone is familiar with this sign. Yes, it's the recycling symbol. Although there are different variations of this symbol, the basic concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, which is represented by the three arrows, is always there. Have you ever noticed that some of this symbol has a number inside? Do you know what is it for?

It is called the Resin Identification Coding System. It is found in plastic products to help the recycling company identify the recycling method necessary for particular polymer type. Basically, each number represents a type of plastic. It has nothing to do with how hard the plastic is or how many times it can be recycled. The purpose is to be able to segregate the plastics by the number code. This is because each type of polymer has different methods of recycling. 

Here is the list of these codes and their meaning.

1 - (Polyethylene terepthalate)  or PET or PETE is commonly used for soft drinks and water bottles.

2 - (High density polyethylene) or HDPE  is commonly used for milk jugs, shampoo and detergent bottles as well as for some trash or shopping bags.

3 - (Vinyl or PVC) is also used for detergent and  shampoo bottles.It is a tough plastics so it is ideal for piping and other similar application.

4 - (Low density polyethylene) or LDPE is commonly used for softer or squeezable bottles.

5 - (Polypropylene) or PP is commonly used for caps, straws, or medicine bottles.

6 - (Polystyrene) or PS is commonly used for disposable plates and cups.

7 - (Miscellaneous) or OTHER is commonly used for gallons, signs and displays and bullet-proof materials.