Resin Identification Codes
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When recycling plastics, it is important to know which types are accepted in your area. This is discerned by the number, usually on the bottom, of the item. This number is the resin identification code (RIC) and it indicates the type of plastic the item is made of. Plastics with the same RIC must be recycled together to minimize contamination and ensure that clean material can be made into new products.
In the United States, the RIC numbers range from 1-7, but not all are accepted in every recycling bin, so make sure you know which numbers are accepted in your area!
Products Made with RIC Name Products Recycled Material
Fiber for carpet, fleece Polyethylene Terephthalate Beverage bottles, food jars, jackets; containers for food (PET, PETE) carpet and beverages
Bottles for milk, juice, Bottles for non-food items, shampoo, and laundry i.e. shampoo, detergent, and High Density Polyethylene detergent; cereal box liners; cleaners; plastic lumber; (HDPE) plastic wood composites; floor tiles; flower pots, wire and cable covering garden edging
Pipe, window frames, Pipe, decking, fencing, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) medical products, carpet cables, traffic cones, garden backing, flooring hoses
Bags for bread, frozen food, Shipping envelopes, garbage and produce; coatings for Low Density Polyethylene can liners, furniture, hot and cold beverage cups; (LDPE) compost bins, landscape container lids; toys; timber squeezable bottles WWW.SMALLEFFORTBIGIMPACT.ORG
Containers for yogurt, butter, Car battery cases, signal and takeout; medicine lights, ice scrapers, bicycle Polypropylene (PP) bottles; appliances; racks, garden rakes, storage automotive applications and bins carpeting
Food service items (cups, Thermal insulation, license plates, cutlery, clamshell Polystyrene (PS) plate frames, foam cartons, containers); packing peanuts; foam packaging CD cases
Reusable water bottles, oven Bottles and plastic lumber Other -baking bags, some juice and applications ketchup bottles