Resources

Glossary of Terms


#1 PET

Polyethylene Terephthalate

Products
Pop bottles, water bottles and many common food packages.

Recycling
These products are the easiest plastics to recycle and can be picked up through most curbside recycling programs.

How are they reused?
Recycled into bottles and polyester fibers.

 

#2 HDPE

High-Density Polyethylene

Products
Mostly used for detergents, bleach, milk containers, hair care products and motor oil.

Recycling
These containers are also easy to recycle and can be picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks.

How are they reused?
Recycled into more bottles or bags.

 

#3 PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride

Products
Pipes, toys, furniture, packaging, you name it.

Recycling
Extensively recycled in Europe, with limited recycling in the U.S.A.

How are they reused?
These items are difficult to recycle as PVC is a major environmental and health threat.

 

#4 LDPE

Low-Density Polyethylene

Products
Wrapping, grocery bags and sandwich bags.

Recycling
LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.

 

#5 PP / CPP

Polypropylene / Cast Polypropylene

Products
Clothing, bottles, tubs and ropes.

Recycling
Can be recycled through some curbside programs.

How are they reused?
Recycled into fibers.

#6 PS

Polystyrene

Products
Cups, foam trays and packaging peanuts.

Recycling
Most curbside recycling programs do not accept polystyrene. However, some specialty facilities are able to recycle it.

How are they reused?
Reuse polystyrene for packaging or in planters to assist with drainage and as a filter.

 

#7 Other

e.g. Acrylic, Nylon & Polycarbonate

Products
Bottles, some packaging, plastic lumber, headlights, lenses and safety shields/glasses.

Recycling
These plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.

 

Bio-Assimilation

Breaks down to a molecular weight that can be consumed by micro-organisms.

 

Biodegradable

Breaks down by fungi, bacteria or other natural procesess.

 

Compostable

Breaks down in a composting environment (air + water).

Material capable of decomposition under specified composting conditions. Composting is human-controlled biodegradation with the aim of faster decomposition and agricultural use of the resulting biomass.

To claim “compostable,” packaging must meet qualifying standards, such as those set by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM). Specifying if the package is intended for industrial or home composting facilitates is also required.

 

Carbon Footprint

The total emissions caused by an individual, event, product or organization, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.