The 6 Most Common Plastics & the Plastic Identification Code

Symbol	Type of Plastic	Properties	Common Uses	Recyled In
	PET Polyethylene Terephthalate	Clear, tough solvent resistant, barrier to gas and moisture, softens at 80°C	Soft drink and water bottles, salad domes, biscuit trays, salad dressing and peanut butter containers	Pillow and sleeping bag filling, clothing, soft drink bottles carpet
	PE-HD High Density Polyethylene	Hard to semi-flexible, resistant to chemicals and moisture, waxy surface, opaque, softens at 75°C, easily coloured, processed and formed	Crinkly shopping bags, freezer bags, milk bottles, ice cream containers, juice bottles, shampoo, chemical and detergent bottles, buckets, rigid agricultural pipe, milk crates	Recycling bins, compost bins, buckets, detergent containers, posts, fencing, pipes
	PVC Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride PVC-U Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride PCV-P	Strong, tough, can be clear, can be solvent welded, softens at 80°C Flexible, clear, elastic, can be solvent welded	Cosmetic containers, electrical conduit, plumbing pipes and fittings, blister packs, wall cladding, roof sheeting, bottles garden hose, shoe soles, cable sheathing, blood bags and tubing, watch straps	Flooring, film and sheets, cables, speed bumps, packaging, binders, mud flaps and mats
	PE-LD Low density Polyethylene	Soft, flexible, waxy surface, translucent, softens at 70°C, scratches easily	Plastic Food wrap, garbage bags, squeeze bottles, black irrigation tube, garbage bins	Rubbish bin liners, pallet sheets
	PP Polypropylene	Hard but still flexible, waxy surface, softens at 140°C, translucent, withstands solvents, versatile	Dip bottles and ice cream tubs, potato chip bags, straws, microwave dishes, kettles, garden furniture, lunch boxes, blue packing tape	Pegs, bins, pipes, pallet sheets, oil funnels, car battery cases, trays
	PS Polystyrene PS-E Expanded Polystyrene	Clear, glassy, rigid, brittle, opaque, semi-tough, softens at 95°C. Affected by fats and solvents Foamed, light weight, energy absorbing, heat insulating	CD cases, plastic cutlery, imitation 'crystal glassware', low cost brittle toys, video cases Foamed polystyrene hot drink cups, hamburger takeaway clamshells, foamed meat trays, protective packaging for fragile items	Coat hangers, coasters, white ware components, stationery trays and accessories
	OTHER Letters below indicate ISO code for plastic type e.g SAN, ABS, PC, Nylon	Includes all other resins and multi materials (e.g. laminates). Properties depend on plastic or combination of plastics	Car parts, appliance parts, electronics, water cooler bottles, packaging	Car parts, concrete aggregate, plastic timber

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