Types of plastic and how to recycle them
The 7 types of recyclable plastic.
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1 - PETE Polyethylene Terephthalate |
2 - HDPE High-Density Polyethylene |
3 - PVC or V Polyvinyl Chloride or Vinyl |
4 - LPDE Low Density Polyethylene |
5 - PP Polypropylene |
6 - PS Polystyrene |
7 - 'Other' Miscellaneous |
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| Where you'll find it | Soft drinks bottles, food packaging such as punnets | Milk cartons, cleaning products, yoghurt pots, soap dispensers | Gutters, pipe fittings, window frames |
Food bags, shopping bags, magazine wrapping |
Margarine tubs, microwave meal trays, soup pots | Foam items like polystyrene packaging, disposable plates | This includes 'other' forms of plastic including composites, such as crisp packets and items like DVDs or sunglasses. |
| How to dispose of it | At Kerbside Recycling | At kerbside recycling | Not yet recyclable, place in general waste* | At collection points in some supermarkets** | At kerbside recycling | Rigid items: at kerbside recycling. Foam items: with general waste | Flexible items: At collection points in some supermarkets** Other items: with general waste. |
| Next life | Most often used to make more PET products | Garden furniture, pipes and more milk cartons | Most often used to make PVC products | Bin liners, plastic furniture and floor tiles | Clothing fibres, food containers, speed humps | Insulation, foam packaging | More crisp packets |
* Although these items cannot be recycled at the kerbside, visit terracycle to investigate further recycling options
** Although these items cannot be recycled at the kerbside, visit recycle now to explore further options
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