Probably you have already seen some
symbols on plastics, but you don’t know what they mean. Don’t worry; in no time
at all we’re going to explain you.
These are the symbols that you can find:
Maybe they can appear with some changes
like:
The last picture informs us of these
plastics have already been recycled. Because they are written with an R
(recycled) before the acronym.
And after this brief introduction, we
start with the plastics’ classification:
1.
POLYETHYLENE
TEREPHTHALATE (PET and PETG)
This kind of plastic is usually used to
packaging food; bottles of soda, water, beer, mouthwash juice and vegetable oil.
It’s really common because it’s lightweight, cheap, easily recyclable and
strength. Recycling this plastic we can obtain new PET, fabric for clothing,
furniture, car’s parts and more items.
PETG
is a co-polymer of PET and it has a good resistance to impact. It’s used to
contain shampoos, detergents, soaps…
2.
HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE)
It’s used for packaging
cleaning or chemical products (such as shampoo, detergent, chlorine, bleach,
etc.) and foods like milk, juice, water or yogurt. It’s also used to make
plastic carrier bags. Its properties are strength, resistance of wetness and
chemicals and permeability to gas. If we recycle it, we can obtain tubes,
detergent bottles, oil bottles, picnic tables, pens, mailbox posts, recycling
containers…
3.
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) and VINYL (V)
The main difference between these plastics
is polyvinyl chloride contains chlorine (if it burns, it produces carcinogenic
toxins) and vinyl not, as their names say. We can package cooking oil,
detergent shampoo, etc. It’s also used to make windows, wire and cable
jacketing or piping. Properties: toughness, strength, clarity and resistance.
Unfortunately this plastic isn’t usually recycled but when it’s recycled we can
obtain roadway gutters, paneling, flooring…
4. LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE)
We can find this plastic in squeezable
bottles, bread bags, frozen food bags, clothes, furniture or carpets. This plastic
is tough, flexible and transparent. After recycling, we obtain trash cans,
compost bins, furniture, panelling, floor tile, etc.
5. POLYPROPYLENE (PP)
This type of plastic is found in yogurt
containers, syrup bottles, medicine bottles or caps. It has resistance to heat
(because it has a high melting-point), is strong and resistant. If we recycle
it, we obtain signal lights, brooms brushes, battery cables, bins or trays.
6. POLYSTYRENE (PS)
This kind of plastic is used to make
plates, cups, compact dick jackets, meat trays or egg cartons. It’s clear, a
good thermal insulation and has low melting-point. Recycling this plastic we
obtain thermal insulation (due to its properties), egg cartons, carry-out
containers, rulers or vents. Nevertheless it’s too difficult recycle it and can produce toxins.
7. OTHER
In this category are included
all plastics not specifically previously or combinations of them. Because of
this, its properties are very varied. We can find this in some plastics
bottles, DVD, sunglasses, food packaging, computers, etc. It’s too difficult to
recycle it owing to its diversity.
