The Recycling Symbol Numbers Explained: What Actually Gets Recycled

The number inside the recycling triangle on plastic containers is not a recycling promise. It's a resin identification code that tells you what type of plastic the item is made from. Whether your local facility actually recycles that type is a completely different question, and the answer varies by municipality. The seven codes #1 PET/PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Water bottles, soda bottles, food containers. Widely recycled. This is the easy one. Most curbside programs accept it. Recycled into fibers (polyester clothing), new bottles, and carpet. #2 HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles. Widely recycled. Along with #1, this is the most commonly recycled plastic. Becomes new bottles, lumber, pipes, and playground equipment. #3 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Pipes, window frames, some food wrap. Rarely recycled in curbside programs. PVC contaminates other plastic streams and releases harmful chemicals when melted. Most facilities reject it. #4 L