Plastic Packaging
Recycling Codes and
Typical Plastic
Properties
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Polyethylene Terephthalate
(PET)
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High Density Polyethylene
(HDPE)
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Polyvinyl Chloride
(PVC)
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Low Density Polyethylene
(LDPE)
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Polypropylene
(PP)
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Polystyrene
(PS)
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Other Plastics
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Properties
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Clarity |
Clear |
Translucent |
Clear |
Translucent |
Translucent |
Clear |
Plastic ID Code "7" is for other plastics |
Moisture
Barrier |
Fair to Good |
Good to Excellent |
Fair |
Good |
Good to Excellent |
Poor to Fair |
Oxygen
Barrier |
Good |
Poor |
Good |
Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Max.
Temperature |
120F |
145F |
140F |
120F |
165F |
150F |
Rigidity
|
Moderate to High |
Moderate |
Moderate to High |
Low |
Moderate to High |
Moderate to High |
Resistance to
Impact |
Good to Excellent |
Good to Excellent |
Fair to Good |
Excellent |
Poor to Good |
Poor to Good |
Resistance to
Heat |
Poor to fair |
Good |
Poor to Fair |
Fair |
Good |
Fair |
Resistance to
Cold |
Good |
Excellent |
Fair |
Excellent |
Poor to Fair |
Poor |
Resistance to
Sunlight |
Good |
Fair |
Poor to Good |
Fair |
Fair |
Poor to Fair |
For additional usage information on
plastic packaging resins visit the
American Plastics Council web site.
PET
(polyethylene terephthalate) �
commonly used in soft drink bottles.
HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
� used in milk and water jugs, detergent bottles and the base
cups of soft drink containers.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
� commonly used in durable construction products such as
pipes and siding.
LPDE (low-density polyethylene)
� used in plastic film items such as grocery bags.
PP (polypropylene) �
common in durable items, fibers and diaper liners.
PS (polystyrene) �
familiar in foamed form ("Styrofoam" is a particular brand
name) as fast-food packaging, hot cups and meat trays; also
used in rigid and semi-rigid containers.
Multi-layer or laminates
� combine various plastics with different properties in
layers with different properties. These are common in food
products such as cheese wrap.
Thermoset-material (resin)
� capable of becoming permanently rigid when cured.
Thermoplastic-material (resin)
� capable of softening or fusing when heated and hardening
again when cooled.
Requirements for a successful recycling
operation:
- Acquire a continuous source of high grade
materials.
- Establish cost-effective collection and
transportation.
- Create recycling processing technology and
equipment to handle material efficiently and economically.
- Develop the ability to market both quality
and a continuous quantity of materials.
- Develop markets for end-products.
Definition of the word Recycle
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Cycle
Main Entry: 1cy�cle
Pronunciation: 'sI-k&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English cicle, from Late Latin
cyclus, from Greek kyklos circle, wheel, cycle --
more at WHEEL
Date: 14th century
1 : an interval of time during which a sequence
of a recurring succession of events or phenomena is completed
2 a : a course or series of events or operations
that recur regularly and usually lead back to the starting
point b : one complete performance of a
vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other
periodic process c : a permutation of a set of
ordered elements in which each element takes the place of the
next and the last becomes first
3 : a circular or spiral arrangement: as a
: an imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens b
: WHORL c : RING
Recycle
Main Entry: 1re�cy�cle
Pronunciation: (")rE-'sI-k&l
Date: 1926
transitive senses
1 : to pass again through a series of changes or treatments: as
a : to process (as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order
to regain material for human use b : RECOVER
Recover
Main Entry: re�cov�er
Pronunciation: ri-'k&-v&r
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): re�cov�ered; re�cov�er�ing /-'k&-v&-ri[ng],
-'k&v-ri[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French recoverer, from
Latin recuperare, from re- + (assumed) Latin caperare, from
Latin capere to take -- more at HEAVE
Date: 14th century
transitive senses
1 : to get back : REGAIN
2 a : to bring back to normal position or condition <stumbled,
then recovered himself> b archaic : RESCUE
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