There are many types of plastic in use. Plastic must be sorted by type for recycling, since each type melts at a different temperature and has different properties. The plastics industry has developed an identification system to label different types of plastic. The system divides plastic into seven distinct groups and uses a number code generally found on the bottom of containers.

The following explains the seven different types of recyclable plastics:

Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

Common uses: 2 liter soda bottles, cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars.

Plastic #2: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Common uses: detergent bottles, milk jugs, grocery bags.

Plastic #3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Common uses: plastic pipes, outdoor furniture, shrink wrap, water bottles, salad dressing and liquid detergent con-tainers.

Plastic #4: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Common uses: dry cleaning bags, produce bags, trash can liners, food storage containers.

Plastic #5: Polypropylene (PP)

Common uses: aerosol caps, drinking straws.

Plastic #6: Polystyrene (PS)

Common uses: packaging pellets or “Styrofoam peanuts,” cups, plastic tableware, meat trays, to-go “clam shells.”

Plastic #7: Other

Common uses: certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware.

Plastic recycling can be very confusing. One way to think about the different types of plastic is to compare plastic to fruit. Not all fruit is the same. An apple is not an orange. Not all plastic is the same. Plastic 1 is not plastic 5. Even within the same plastic group there are differences.

Consider apples. A red apple is not a green apple. A plastic 2 narrow neck milk jug is not the same as a plastic 2 wide mouth yogurt cup. Keep the value of plastic high by placing only those types that are accepted for recycling in your recycling container.