How to Know What The Number On The Bottom of Your Plastic Bottle Means

Plastic Bottle Numbers

Have you ever looked at the bottom of a plastic container (laundry detergent, milk, mustard, etc)...most have this little triangle with a number inside it...Do you know what that number means?

You will after reading this...

Things You'll Need

• plastic bottle

Instructions

1. 

   Most clear bottles (soda, water, etc) have the number 1 in the triangle. The number 1 stands for PETE or PET (polyethylene terephthalate. These items can be recycled into fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and bean bags. It can also be used for car bumpers, tennis ball felt, and, of course, other plastic bottles.

2. 

   Number 2 is for HDPE (high density polyethylene). Milk jugs, bleach, shampoo, etc. have the number 2. These are heavier containers that can be recycled into toys and piping.

   PETE/PET and HDPE are usually accepted at recycling centers.

3. 

   PVC or V Poly(vinyl chloride) items will have the number 3. It is used for pipes, meat wraps, cooking oil bottles, baby bottle nipples, vinyl dashboards and seat covers, coffee containers, vinyl siding on your house, and linoleum. PVC is useful because it resists two things that hate each other: fire and water. When you try to burn PVC, chlorine atoms are released, and chlorine atoms inhibit combustion.

   These items are difficult to recycle and is a major environmental and health threat.

4. 

   Grocery bags and sandwich bags will have a number 4. This is for LDPE (low density polyethylene. These are plastics that aren't commonly recycled.

5. 

   Number 5 is for PP (polypropylene). You might see these on dishwasher safe cups and bowls, some baby bottles, Tupperware®, syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, and diapers.

   These are items that a recycling center won't take because they have a low rate of recyclability.

6. 

   PS (polystyrene) better known as Styrofoam has a number 6. Some common items are foam food containers, meat trays, packing "peanuts" and insulation.

7. 

   OTHER(usually polycarbonate) is number 7. Used in 5-gallon water bottles, some baby bottles, some metal can linings. Products labeled as "other" are made of any combination of 1-6.

   These plastics are the most difficult to recycle and are seldom collected or recycled. You can return these items to the manufacturer so that you don't add more unrecycled items to the landfills. This also puts the burden back on the makers to recycle or dispose of the items properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Not all plastic is labeled with a number. If you're unsure of how to recycle an item,don't hesitate to call the manufacturer directly.

• You can also look on food packaging for toll-free phone numbers where consumers can call and ask questions.

• A quick rinse is all you need to do before taking plastic to the recycling center.

• Polystyrene (number 6) is considered a possible human carcinogen (a substance that is capable of causing cancer in humans or animals) by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research and Cancer.

• Polycarbonate (number 7)can release its primary building block (bisphenol A) this is a suspected hormone disrupter of liquids and foods.

Resources

• ehow Going Green Guide