Most products in the U.S. on its surface have a sign on it which is the recycling code. Each code identifies the materials used to create the products and they can help in identifying them for the workers at the recycling plant. This helps to separate different types of plastic, as well as glass, metal and paper, all of which have to be recycled in different ways. Here is more information about the codes and you can read them all down below.
The codes might look all the similar, just a number or two inside of a triangle. To identify the actual materials used for making the item, it is the number embossed inside the triangle which is the key. The numbers ranging from 1 to 7 are used solely for plastics and will refer to the resin identification codes or basically the types of polymers that were used. For example, with polyethylene terephthalate, the mark you will see would be a triangle with the number 1 or 01 in it and this means it is a thermoplastic that is usually used for making products like soda bottles and water bottles. The number 9 is also used in addition to the seven numbers for the kind of plastic called acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Sometimes the letters ABS are used instead, and this plastic is used to make computer and cellular phone parts.
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.
There are some organic materials which can be recycled or biodegrade and these include wood, cork and cotton, which also have their own numbers for identification. Cotton is identified with a number 60, and many people are unaware that this material can be recycled. Wood has been given the number 50, although there are many types of wood. Cork has the number 51 and it is not just used for preserving wine. Cork can be used for several things like for making musical instruments and also for flooring.
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.
The codes might look all the similar, just a number or two inside of a triangle. To identify the actual materials used for making the item, it is the number embossed inside the triangle which is the key. The numbers ranging from 1 to 7 are used solely for plastics and will refer to the resin identification codes or basically the types of polymers that were used. For example, with polyethylene terephthalate, the mark you will see would be a triangle with the number 1 or 01 in it and this means it is a thermoplastic that is usually used for making products like soda bottles and water bottles. The number 9 is also used in addition to the seven numbers for the kind of plastic called acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Sometimes the letters ABS are used instead, and this plastic is used to make computer and cellular phone parts.
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.
There are some organic materials which can be recycled or biodegrade and these include wood, cork and cotton, which also have their own numbers for identification. Cotton is identified with a number 60, and many people are unaware that this material can be recycled. Wood has been given the number 50, although there are many types of wood. Cork has the number 51 and it is not just used for preserving wine. Cork can be used for several things like for making musical instruments and also for flooring.
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.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves blogging about how stuff is made. For further information about custom plastic packaging solutions or to find out more about food packaging design, please go to the Indepak website today.
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