Difference between revisions of "Resin identification code"

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(Created page with '{{Mergeto | Plastic recycling| discuss=Talk:Resin identification code#Merge Proposal| date=December 2009}} <br /> {{Refimprove|date=August 2008}} <br /> [[Image:Plastic recycle.j…')
 
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{{Mergeto | Plastic recycling| discuss=Talk:Resin identification code#Merge Proposal| date=December 2009}}
 
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{{Mergeto | Plastic recycling| discuss=Talk:Resin identification code#Merge Proposal| date=December 2009}}
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[[Image:Plastic recycle.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Sorted household plastic waiting to be hauled away for reprocessing.]]
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[[File:Plastic recycle.jpg|thumb|300px|Sorted household plastic waiting to be hauled away for reprocessing.]]
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[[Image:Mint box polypropylene lid.JPG|thumb|150px|[[Polypropylene]] lid of a Tic Tac box, with a [[living hinge]] and the resin identification code under its flap]]
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[[File:Mint box polypropylene lid.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Polypropylene]] lid of a [[Tic Tac]] box, with a [[living hinge]] and the resin identification code under its flap]]
  
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The '''SPI resin identification coding system''' is a set of symbols placed on [[plastic]]s to identify the [[polymer]] type. It was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988, and is used internationally.
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The '''SPI resin identification coding system''' is a set of symbols placed on [[plastic]]s to identify the [[polymer]] type. It was developed by the [[Society of the Plastics Industry]] (SPI) in 1988, and is used internationally.
 
The primary purpose of the codes is to allow efficient separation of different [[polymer]] types for [[recycling]].
 
The primary purpose of the codes is to allow efficient separation of different [[polymer]] types for [[recycling]].
  
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==Availability of recycling facilities==
 
==Availability of recycling facilities==
 
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{{globalize/USA|section}}
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Use of the recycling symbol in the coding of plastics has led to ongoing consumer confusion about which plastics are readily recyclable. In most communities throughout the United States, PETE and HDPE are the only plastics collected in municipal recycling programs. Some regions, though, are expanding the range of plastics collected as markets become available. (Los Angeles, for example, recycles all clean plastics numbered 1 through  7.<ref>http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/what_is_recyclable.htm "What is Recyclable" from the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation website.</ref>)
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Use of the recycling symbol in the coding of plastics has led to ongoing consumer confusion about which plastics are readily recyclable. In most communities throughout the United States, PETE and HDPE are the only plastics collected in municipal recycling programs (i.e. [http://www.mackinawcity.org/dept-public-works-30/ Mackinaw City], Michigan). Some regions, though, are expanding the range of plastics collected as markets become available. (Los Angeles, for example, recycles all clean plastics numbered 1 through  7.<ref>http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/what_is_recyclable.htm "What is Recyclable" from the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation website.</ref>)
  
 
==Possible new codes==
 
==Possible new codes==
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{{Plastics}}
 
{{Plastics}}
 
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[[bs:Kodovi za identifikaciju plastičnih masa]]
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[[fr:Code d'identification des résines]]
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[[pl:Symbole materiałów do recyklingu]]
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[[sh:Kodovi za identifikaciju plastičnih masa]]
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[[zh:塑膠分類標誌]]
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[[Category:2Fix]]

Latest revision as of 09:09, 20 September 2010

File:Plastic recycle.jpg
Sorted household plastic waiting to be hauled away for reprocessing.
File:Mint box polypropylene lid.JPG
Polypropylene lid of a Tic Tac box, with a living hinge and the resin identification code under its flap

The SPI resin identification coding system is a set of symbols placed on plastics to identify the polymer type. It was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988, and is used internationally. The primary purpose of the codes is to allow efficient separation of different polymer types for recycling.

The symbols used in the code consist of arrows that cycle clockwise to form a rounded triangle and enclosing a number, often with an acronym representing the plastic below the triangle. When the number is omitted, the symbol is known as the universal Recycling Symbol, indicating generic recyclable materials. In this case, other text and labels are used to indicate the material(s) used. Previously recycled resins are coded with an "R" prefix (for example, a PETE bottle made of recycled resin could be marked as RPETE using same numbering).

Contrary to misconceptions, the number does not indicate how hard the item is to recycle, nor how often the plastic was recycled. It is an arbitrary number and has no other meaning aside from identifying the specific plastic.

The Unicode character encoding standard includes the resin identification codes, between code points U+2673 and U+2679 inclusive. The generic material recycling symbol is encoded as code point U+267A.

Table of resin codes

Recycling number Image Unicode Symbol Abbreviation Polymer name Uses
1 ♳ U+2673 ♳ PETE or PET Polyethylene terephthalate Polyester fibres, thermoformed sheet, strapping, and soft drink bottles

(See also: Recycling of PET bottles)

2 ♴ U+2674 ♴ HDPE High density polyethylene Bottles, grocery bags, milk jugs, recycling bins, agricultural pipe, base cups, car stops, playground equipment, and plastic lumber
3 ♵ U+2675 ♵ PVC or V Polyvinyl chloride Pipe, fencing, and non-food bottles
4 ♶ U+2676 ♶ LDPE Low density polyethylene Plastic bags, 6 pack rings, various containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing, and various molded laboratory equipment
5 ♷ U+2677 ♷ PP Polypropylene Auto parts, industrial fibers, food containers, and dishware
6 ♸ U+2678 ♸ PS Polystyrene Desk accessories, cafeteria trays, plastic utensils, toys, video cassettes and cases, and insulation board and other expanded polystyrene products (e.g., Styrofoam)
7 ♹ U+2679 ♹ OTHER or O Other plastics, including acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, fiberglass, nylon, polycarbonate, and polylactic acid Bottles, plastic lumber applications

Availability of recycling facilities

Use of the recycling symbol in the coding of plastics has led to ongoing consumer confusion about which plastics are readily recyclable. In most communities throughout the United States, PETE and HDPE are the only plastics collected in municipal recycling programs (i.e. Mackinaw City, Michigan). Some regions, though, are expanding the range of plastics collected as markets become available. (Los Angeles, for example, recycles all clean plastics numbered 1 through 7.[1])

Possible new codes

In 2007, a State Senate bill in California (SB 898) proposed adding a "0" code for compostable polylactic acid.[2] However, this provision of the bill was removed before passage.[3][4]

See also

References

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External links

bs:Kodovi za identifikaciju plastičnih masa

fr:Code d'identification des résines pl:Symbole materiałów do recyklingu sh:Kodovi za identifikaciju plastičnih masa

zh:塑膠分類標誌
  1. ↑ http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/what_is_recyclable.htm "What is Recyclable" from the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation website.
  2. ↑ http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_898&sess=CUR&house=B&author=simitian Full text and version history of California State Senate Bill 898
  3. ↑ http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/current_legislation/sb898_07 Bill summary from Californians Against Waste, an environmental group
  4. ↑ SB 898 Senate Bill - AMENDED
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