In the United States, most products have a recycling code printed somewhere on the surface. This includes all types of packaging, including plastic packaging, cardboard packaging, glass and metal. Each of these codes identifies what materials were used to create the products and they are helpful to those who work at recycling facilities. Here is some information about the different codes and what they mean.
The codes all look similar, they are a triangle created from three arrows and a number is placed inside this triangle. The number is what identifies the actual materials that were used to form the item. The numbers 1-7 all refer to resin identification codes for plastics. For example, a triangle with a 1 or 01 stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a thermoplastic that is used to create products such as soft drink bottles and water bottles. In addition to these seven numbers used to identify plastics, the number 9 and sometimes the letters ABS are used to identify a type of plastic used to make cell phones and computers called acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
Recycling centers also recycle all kinds of paper. There are also numbers used to identify the several types of paper products which are the numbers 20, 21, 22 and 23. The number 20 is used for the cardboard and paper like magazines and mailed items will use the number 21. Regular paper like the printer paper uses the number 22. Paperboard that is the thick paper for making poster boards, greeting cards and book covers uses number 23.
Metals are identified using either the number 40 or 41. The number 40 is used for items made of steel while number 41 was used for aluminum. ALU is used sometimes if the number 41 is not used for aluminum. Since aluminum is something that can be used again and again to create products it is the most recyclable metal on the planet. Even "tin" cans use aluminum to make them because of its vast supply, resistance to corrosion and malleability.
Wood, cork and cotton which are organic materials also have their own numbers for identification. The number 50 is used for wood as an example. The number 51 is used for cork and it is also not just used to cover bottles to preserve wine. You can also use cork for flooring, also for musical instruments and it can even be in printers. The number 60 is used for cotton and you would be surprised to learn that this material can be recycled too.
Glass is another item that is separated into categories at recycling facilities and there are ten different categories. Generally glass is separated into categories by color, such as clear glass, green glass, dark glass and so on. There is also a section for items that are composites, which might include paper and plastic or a mix of plastic and aluminum. Not all cities have recycling centers that can recycle all of these items. In many areas, only plastics with a 1 or 2 on them, as well as aluminum can be recycled.
The codes all look similar, they are a triangle created from three arrows and a number is placed inside this triangle. The number is what identifies the actual materials that were used to form the item. The numbers 1-7 all refer to resin identification codes for plastics. For example, a triangle with a 1 or 01 stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a thermoplastic that is used to create products such as soft drink bottles and water bottles. In addition to these seven numbers used to identify plastics, the number 9 and sometimes the letters ABS are used to identify a type of plastic used to make cell phones and computers called acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
Recycling centers also recycle all kinds of paper. There are also numbers used to identify the several types of paper products which are the numbers 20, 21, 22 and 23. The number 20 is used for the cardboard and paper like magazines and mailed items will use the number 21. Regular paper like the printer paper uses the number 22. Paperboard that is the thick paper for making poster boards, greeting cards and book covers uses number 23.
Metals are identified using either the number 40 or 41. The number 40 is used for items made of steel while number 41 was used for aluminum. ALU is used sometimes if the number 41 is not used for aluminum. Since aluminum is something that can be used again and again to create products it is the most recyclable metal on the planet. Even "tin" cans use aluminum to make them because of its vast supply, resistance to corrosion and malleability.
Wood, cork and cotton which are organic materials also have their own numbers for identification. The number 50 is used for wood as an example. The number 51 is used for cork and it is also not just used to cover bottles to preserve wine. You can also use cork for flooring, also for musical instruments and it can even be in printers. The number 60 is used for cotton and you would be surprised to learn that this material can be recycled too.
Glass is another item that is separated into categories at recycling facilities and there are ten different categories. Generally glass is separated into categories by color, such as clear glass, green glass, dark glass and so on. There is also a section for items that are composites, which might include paper and plastic or a mix of plastic and aluminum. Not all cities have recycling centers that can recycle all of these items. In many areas, only plastics with a 1 or 2 on them, as well as aluminum can be recycled.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. For further details about custom packaging solutions or to find out more about retail product packaging options, please visit the Indepak.com site now.
No comments:
Post a Comment