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Learn about
Plastics |
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Resin identification codes
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Have you ever wondered
what those numbers on the bottom of your plastic soda bottle mean? These little
numbers with the arrows around them let you know what type of plastic is used to
manufacture those soda bottles, laundry detergent packages, milk jugs, etc.
The Society of the
Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) introduced its voluntary resin identification
coding system in 1988 at the urging of recyclers around the world. A growing
number of communities were implementing recycling programs in an effort to
decrease the volume of waste subject to rising tipping fees at landfills. In
some cases, test programs were driven by state-level recycling mandates.
The SPI
code was developed to meet recyclers' needs while providing manufacturers a
consistent, uniform system that could apply worldwide. Because municipal
recycling programs traditionally have targeted packaging - primarily containers
- the SPI coding system offered a means of identifying the resin content of
bottles and containers commonly found in the residential waste stream.
Recycling
firms have varying standards for the plastics they accept. Some firms may
require that the plastics be sorted by type and separated from other
recyclables; some may specify that mixed plastics are acceptable if they are
separated from other recyclables; while others may accept all material mixed
together. Not all types of plastics are generally recycled, and recycling
facilities may not be available in some areas.
Download this handy Plastic
Packaging Resins Chart and
see where you might see those little numbers and why they stand for so much.
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