Recycling codes

Recycling codes are used to identify the material from which an item is made, to facilitate easier recycling or other reprocessing. Such symbols have been defined for batteries, biomatter/organic material, glass, metals, paper, and plastics.

Symbol	Code	Description	Examples
Plastics (see resin identification code)
50px	#1 PET(E)	Polyethylene terephthalate	Polyester fibers, soft drink bottles
50px	#2 PEHD or HDPE	High-density polyethylene	Plastic bottles, plastic bags, trash cans, imitation wood
50px	#3 PVC	Polyvinyl chloride	Window frames, bottles for chemicals, flooring
50px	#4 PELD or LDPE	Low-density polyethylene	Plastic bags, buckets, soap dispenser bottles, plastic tubes
50px	#5 PP	Polypropylene	Bumpers, car interior trim, industrial fibers
50px	#6 PS	Polystyrene	Toys, flower pots, video cassettes, ashtrays, trunks
50px	#7 O(ther)	All other plastics
	#9 or #ABS	Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene	Monitor/TV cases, coffee makers, cell phones, most computer plastic
Batteries (see also battery recycling)
	#8 Lead	Lead-acid battery
	#9 or #19 Alkaline	Alkaline battery
	#10 NiCD	Nickel-cadmium battery
	#11 NiMH	Nickel metal hydride battery
	#12 Li	Lithium battery
	#13 SO(Z)	Silver-oxide battery
	#14 CZ	Zinc-carbon batteries
Paper
50px	#20 C PAP (PCB)	Cardboard
50px	#21 PAP	Other paper	Mixed paper magazines, mail
50px	#22 PAP	Paper
	#23 PBD (PPB)	Paperboard	Greeting cards, frozen food boxes, book covers
Metals
50px	#40 FE	Steel
50px	#41 ALU	Aluminium
Biomatter/Organic material
50px	#50 FOR	Wood
50px	#51 FOR	Cork	Bottle stoppers, place mats, construction material
50px	#60 COT	Cotton
50px	#61 TEX	Jute
	#62-69 TEX	Other Textiles
Glass
50px	#70 GLS	Mixed Glass Container/Multi-Part Container
50px	#71 GLS	Clear Glass
50px	#72 GLS	Green Glass
	#73 GLS	Dark Sort Glass
	#74 GLS	Light Sort Glass
	#75 GLS	Light Leaded Glass	Televisions, high-end electronics display glass
	#76 GLS	Leaded Glass	Older televisions, ash trays, older beverage holders
	#77 GLS	Copper Mixed/Copper Backed Glass	Electronics, LCD Display heads, Clocks/Watches
	#78 GLS	Silver Mixed/Silver Backed Glass	Mirrors, formal table settings
	#79 GLS	Gold Mixed/Gold Backed Glass	Computer glass, formal table settings

See also

• Japanese recycling symbols
• Waste hierarchy
• Waste management

cs:Recyklační symbol

External links

• Christiedigital Packaging Labeling Includes lists of material codes in several countries.
• Packaging Ordinance Germany Includes lists of material codes in Germany.