Plastic ID Codes
Symbol
Type of plastic
Properties
Common uses
Recycled in
PET
Polyethylene
Terephthalate
Clear, tough, solvent resistant,
barrier to gas and moisture,
softens at 70°C
Soft drink and water bottles, salad
domes, biscuit trays, salad dressing and
peanut butter containers
Pillow and sleeping
bag filling, clothing, soft
drink bottles, carpet
APET
Clear, tough, solvent resistant,
barrier to gas and moisture,
softens at 70°C
Soft drink and water bottles, salad
domes, biscuit trays, salad dressing and
peanut butter containers
Pillow and sleeping
bag filling, clothing, soft
drink bottles, carpet
HDPE
High Density
Polyethylene
Hard to semi-flexible, resistant
to chemicals and moisture,
waxy surface, opaque, softens
at 135°C, easily coloured,
processed and formed
Crinkly shopping bags, freezer bags,
milk bottles, ice cream containers,
juice bottles, shampoo, chemical and
detergent bottles, milk crates
Recycling bins,
compost bins, buckets,
detergent containers,
posts, fencing, pipes
PVC-U
Unplasticised Polyvinyl
Chloride
PVC-P
Plasticised Polyvinyl
Chloride
Strong, tough, can be clear,
can be solvent welded, softens
at 75°C
Flexible, clear, elastic, can be
solvent welded
Cosmetic containers, electrical conduit,
plumbing pipes and fittings, blister packs,
wall cladding, roof sheeting, bottles
Garden hose, shoe soles, cable
sheathing, blood bags and tubing, watch
straps, commercial cling wrap
Flooring, film and
sheets, cables, speed
bumps, packaging,
binders, mud flaps
and mats
LDPE
Low density
Polyethylene
LLDPE
Linear low density
Polyethylene
Soft, flexible, waxy surface,
translucent, softens at 80°C,
scratches easily
Cling wrap, rubbish bags, squeeze
bottles, black irrigation tube, black
mulch, film, rubbish bins, shrink wrap
Rubbish bin liners,
pallet sheets, slip
sheets
PP
Polypropylene
Hard but still flexible, waxy
surface, softens at 145°C,
translucent, withstands
solvents, versatile
Dip pottles and ice cream tubs, potato
chip bags, straws, microwave dishes,
kettles, garden furniture, lunch boxes,
blue packing tape, automotive parts
Pegs, bins, pipes,
pallet sheets, oil
funnels, car battery
cases, trays
PS
Polystyrene
Clear, glassy, rigid, brittle,
opaque, semi-tough, softens at
95°C. Affected by fats and
solvents
CD cases, plastic cutlery, imitation
`crystal glassware', low cost brittle toys,
video cases, water station cup,
safety helmets
Coat hangers,
coasters, white ware
components, stationery
trays and accessories
EPS
Expanded Polystyrene
Foamed, light weight, energy
absorbing, heat insulating
Foamed polystyrene hot drink cups,
hamburger take-away clamshells,
foamed meat trays, protective
packaging for fragile items, insulation,
insulation panels
Car parts, concrete
aggregate, plastic
timber
PC (polycarbonate),
Nylon, degradable
plastic e.g. PLA
Includes all other resins, multi
materials (e.g. laminates) and
degradable plastics. Properties
dependent on plastic or
combination of plastics
Packaging, car parts, appliance parts,
computers, electronics, water cooler
bottles, medical devices
Car parts, concrete
aggregate, plastic
timber
OTHER
SAN (styrene,
acrylonitrile), ABS
(Acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene)
Includes all other resins, multi
materials (e.g. laminates) and
degradable plastics. Properties
dependent on plastic or
combination of plastics
Packaging, car parts, appliance parts,
computers, electronics, water cooler
bottles, medical devices
Car parts, concrete
aggregate, plastic
timber
These recycling symbols indicate the plastic identification. It's a global system to help identify what type of plastic the
product is made from, its properties and how it becomes a re-usable product by recycling.