The
Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) introduced
its resin identification coding system in 1988 at the
urging of recyclers around the country. A growing number
of communities were implementing recycling programs
in an effort to decrease the volume of waste subject
to tipping fees at landfills. In some cases, these programs
were driven by state-level recycling mandates.
The SPI code was developed to meet recyclers’ needs
while providing manufacturers a consistent, uniform
system that could apply nationwide. Because municipal
recycling programs traditionally targeted packaging
- primarily containers – the SPI coding system offered
a means of identifying the resin content of bottles
and containers commonly found in the residential waste
stream. Recycling firms have varying standards for the
plastics they accept. Some firms may require that the
plastics be sorted by type and separated from other
recyclables; some may specify that mixed plastics are
acceptable if they are separated from other recyclables;
while others may accept all material mixed together.
Not all types of plastics are generally recycled, and
recycling facilities may not be available in some areas. |
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| Codes |
Descriptions |
Properties |
Packaging Applications |
Recycled Products |
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Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET,
PETE). PET is clear, tough, and has good gas and
moisture barrier properties. Commonly used in soft
drink bottles and many injection molded consumer
product containers. Other applications include strapping
and both food and non-food containers. Cleaned,
recycled PET flakes and pellets are in great demand
for spinning fiber for carpet yarns, producing fiberfill
and geo-textiles. Nickname: Polyester. |
Clarity, strength, toughness, barrier
to gas and moisture, resistance to heat |
Plastic soft drink, water, sports
drink, beer, mouthwash, catsup and salad dressing
bottles. Peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars.
Ovenable film and ovenable prepared food trays. |
Fiber, tote bags, clothing, film
and sheet, food and beverage containers, carpet,
strapping, fleece wear, luggage and bottles. |
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High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
HDPE is used to make bottles for milk, juice, water
and laundry products. Unpigmented bottles are translucent,
have good barrier properties and stiffness, and
are well suited to packaging products with a short
shelf life such as milk. Because HDPE has good chemical
resistance, it is used for packaging many household
and industrial chemicals such as detergents and
bleach. Pigmented HDPE bottles have better stress
crack resistance than unpigmented HDPE bottles. |
Stiffness, strength, toughness, resistance
to chemicals and moisture, permeability to gas,
ease of processing, and ease of forming. |
Milk, water, juice, cosmetic, shampoo,
dish and laundry detergent bottles; yogurt and margarine
tubs; cereal box liners; grocery, trash and retail
bags. |
Liquid laundry detergent, shampoo,
conditioner and motor oil bottles; pipe, buckets,
crates, flower pots, garden edging, film and sheet,
recycling bins, benches, dog houses, plastic lumber,
floor tiles, picnic tables, fencing. |
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Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC):
In addition to its stable physical properties, PVC
has excellent chemical resistance, good weatherability,
flow characteristics and stable electrical properties.
The diverse slate of vinyl products can be broadly
divided into rigid and flexible materials. Bottles
and packaging sheet are major rigid markets, but
it is also widely used in the construction market
for such applications as pipes and fittings, siding,
carpet backing and windows. Flexible vinyl is used
in wire and cable insulation, film and sheet, floor
coverings synthetic leather products, coatings,
blood bags, medical tubing and many other applications. |
Versatility, clarity, ease of blending,
strength, toughness, resistance to grease, oil and
chemicals. |
Clear food and non-food packaging,
medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, film
and sheet, construction products such as pipes,
fittings, siding, floor tiles, carpet backing and
window frames.. |
Packaging, loose-leaf binders, decking,
paneling, gutters, mud flaps, film and sheet, floor
tiles and mats, resilient flooring, cassette trays,
electrical boxes, cables, traffic cones, garden
hose, mobile home skirting. |
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Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE).Used
predominately in film applications due to its toughness,
flexibility and relative transparency, making it
popular for use in applications where heat sealing
is necessary. LDPE is also used to manufacture some
flexible lids and bottles and it is used in wire
and cable applications |
Ease of processing, strength, toughness,
flexibility, ease of sealing, barrier to moisture. |
Dry cleaning, bread and frozen food
bags, squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard. |
Shipping envelopes, garbage can liners,
floor tile, furniture, film and sheet, compost bins,
paneling, trash cans, landscape timber, lumber |
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Polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene
has good chemical resistance, is strong, and has
a high melting point making it good for hot-fill
liquids. PP is found in flexible and rigid packaging
to fibers and large molded parts for automotive
and consumer products. |
Strength, toughness, resistance to
heat, chemicals, grease and oil, versatile, barrier
to moisture. |
Catsup bottles, yogurt containers
and margarine tubs, medicine bottles |
Automobile battery cases, signal
lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, ice scrapers,
oil funnels, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets,
sheeting, trays. |
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Polystyrene (PS). Polystyrene is
a versatile plastic that can be rigid or foamed.
General purpose polystyrene is clear, hard and brittle.
It has a relatively low melting point. Typical applications
include protective packaging, containers, lids,
cups, bottles and trays. |
Versatility, insulation, clarity,
easily formed |
Compact disc jackets, food service
applications, grocery store meat trays, egg cartons,
aspirin bottles, cups, plates, cutlery. |
Thermometers, light switch plates,
thermal insulation, egg cartons, vents, desk trays,
rulers, license plate frames, foam packing, foam
plates, cups, utensils |
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Other. Use of this code indicates
that the package in question is made with a resin
other than the six listed above, or is made of more
than one resin listed above, and used in a multi-layer
combination. |
Dependent on resin or combination
of resins |
Three and five gallon reusable water
bottles, some citrus juice and catsup bottles. |
Bottles, plastic lumber applications. |
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