Transcript What bottle blues? - East Pennsboro Area School District

Deciphering those little triangles on your
plastics.
SPI CODES
These are the numbers in the
little triangles on the bottom
of plastic bottles.
SPI CODES
The number tells us what
materials are used to make
the plastic.
The number will also
determine the recycling
process.
What happens to the plastic
& what new product it may
make.
#1 PET or PETE
Made from polyethylene
terephthalate
Nickname: polyester
#1 PET or PETE
Clear, tough and moisture
barrier properties
Frequently recycled
#1 PET or PETE
Packaging Applications


Soda bottles
Water bottles
Salad dressing
 Detergent
 Mouthwash


PB & Jelly

Salad dressing
Recycled Products
Pillow fill, tote bag, fleece,
fiber, carpet, film, clothing,
bottles, food & beverage
containers, retail bags
#2 HDPE
Made from high density
polyethylene
Good barrier & stiff
Package products with a
short life span
#2 HDPE
Pigmented HDPE bottles have
better stress crack
resistance than
nonpigmented bottles.
Frequently recycled
Packaging Application
Plastic milk bottles, nail polish
remover bottle, Shampoo,
grocery bags, cosmetics,
yogurt container & margarine
containers, retail bags
Recycled Products
Plastic crates
Picnic
tables
New detergent bottles
Motor oil bottles
Pipe
Buckets
Flower pots
Recycling
bins
Floor tiles
And more!!!!
#3 PVC
Made from Polyvinyl chloride
Versatile
Tough
Resistance to grease, oil &
other chemicals
#3 PVC
When PVC is disposed of it
may release dioxin &
phthalates.
Dioxin is a know carcinogen.
Phthalates is a know endocrine
disrupter.
Packaging applications
Take-out boxes
Shampoo
Shower curtains
Flooring
Faux-leather clothing
Cable insulation
Medical tubing
Recycled products
Drainage & irrigation pipes
Loose-leaf binders
Gutters
Mud flaps
Floor tile
Recycled products
Traffic
cones
Garden hose
Decking
Paneling
And more!!!!
#4 LDPE
Made from low density
polyethylene
Items made from LDPE
Grocery bags
Shrink wrap
Bread & produce bags
Newspaper
Dry-cleaning
#4 LDPE
New products made from
LDPE
Trash can liners
Compost bins
New
bags
#5 PP
Number 5 plastic is made
from Polypropylene
Items that use PP:
Takeout containers
Medicine bottles
Baby bottles
Straws
Bottle caps
Yogurt containers
#5 PP
PP new life
Bike racks
Brooms
Ice scrapers
Plastic lumber
#6 PS
#6 plastic is made from
polystyrene.
Suspected to release
possible carcinogens &
endocrine disrupters
Items contained in
polystyrene are
Packing peanuts
Egg cartons
Picnic ware
#6 PS
New items made from #6
Plastic lumber…again
CD cases
#7 Other
All of the rest of the plastic
party!
Could possible leak Bisphenol
A, which is an artificial
estrogen that interfere with
hormone function.
#7 Others
Possible items:
Squeezable ketchup bottles
Microwavable dishes
Oven bags
Corn-based plastics
Polycarbonate
#7 plastics are usually NOT
RECYCLED!