FACTS
ON RESIN IDENTIFICATION:
The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) introduced its resin identification
coding system in 1988 at the urging of recyclers around the United States
of America. A growing number of communities were implementing recycling
programs in an effort to decrease the volume of waste subject to tipping
fees at landfills. In some cases, these programs wre 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
nationwide. Because municipal recycling programs traditionally 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 by 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.
For details on material description, properties, applications
in packaging and recycled products, click on the preferred material
|
MATERIALS
|
 |
ACRONYMS |
|
SYMBOLS |
| POLYETHYLENE
TEREPHTHALATE |
|
(PET or PETE) |
|
PETE |
|
|
|
|
|
| HIGH
DENSITY POLYETHYLENE |
|
(HDPE) |
|
HDPE |
|
|
|
|
|
| POLYVINYL
CHLORIDE |
|
(PVC) |
|
PVC |
|
|
|
|
|
| LOW
DENSITY POLYETHYLENE |
|
(LDPE) |
|
LDPE |
|
|
|
|
|
| POLYPROPYLENE |
|
(PP) |
|
PP |
|
|
|
|
|
| POLYSTYRENE |
|
(PS) |
|
PS |
|
|
|
|
|
| OTHER |
|
|
|
OTHER |
|
|
|
|
|