What Can I Recycle?
Thrift, saving, and re-use are habits earlier generations of Americans knew well. Recycling is simply a modern version of these character traits, helping us make the best use of our planet's limited natural resources. Recycling your daily newspaper, plastic bottles and other items is a great way to help.
See how the actions you take affect the environment.
Experience MoreWhat can I place in my recycling bin?
Plastics
The Plastic Recycling Code
How can you tell whether to put a plastic container into your recycling bin?
Turn the product over and look for the recycling symbol, a triangle with a number from 1 to 7 inside. That number is the "resin identification code," or RIC. Each number represents a different type of plastic, and some are more easily recycled than others.
Some municipalities accept all types of plastic. Others accept only containers with certain code numbers stamped on them. Still others accept only products with specific resin codes that are bottles (having a neck that's narrower than the body).
Note that the same type of product may be packaged in different types of plastic. Shampoo, for example, is commonly packaged in bottles made of Code 2 and Code 3 plastic, depending on the brand.
To learn more about other plastic codes, mouse over
the symbols below.