Recycling Symbols

The 'Modus' triangle.The Modus Triangle is now a familiar symbol on most products.
Here we describe the number and the lettering under the triangle, as well as other recycling symbols.

 


Number in triangle Letters underneath Material Found in
01 PET or PETE Polyethylene terephthalate Bottles involving high pressure (fizzy drinks), ‘see through' plastics and carrier bags. Can be recycled into fleece jackets.
02 PEHD or HDPE High-density polyethylene Bottles involving normal pressure, opaque plastics (milk bottles), food trays and carrier bags.
03 PVC Polyvinyl chloride Window frames, water & waste pipes, older electrical cables, music records, cash/credit cards. Recycling facilities limited due to high reprocessing costs.
04 PELD or LDPE Low-density polyethylene Food trays, can-retaining rings (6-pack), carrier bags. Several versions of LDPE exist, which cannot be mixed.
05 PP Polypropylene Ropes, meat wrap etc in supermarkets, newer electrical cables.
06 PS Polystyrene Food trays/cups/cutlery, protection for larger items from damage. Recycling facilities limited due to high reprocessing costs compared to weight.
07 O Other plastics All other plastic types not listed.
09 ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene TV / monitor cases, LEGO® bricks, kettles.
20 PAP Cardboard Packing cases.
21 PAP Other paper Envelopes, magazines.
22 PAP Paper Printer paper, newspaper.
23 PAP Paperboard Cereal boxes, birthday cards.
40 FE Steel ‘Tin' cans, biscuit tins.
41 AL Aluminium Drinks cans.
81 Paper & plastic Milk cartons.
84 Paper, plastic & aluminium Fruit juice cartons.

 

Codes 60-69 (COT or TEX) are various textiles (60 Cotton, 61 Jute, others unspecified). Codes 70-79 (GL or GLS) is glass of varying grades and colours. Codes 80-99 are mixtures of materials. Two common ones are 81 and 84 as shown above.

Alternative Symbols

The aluminium recycling symbol Aluminium
The steel recycling symbol Steel
The REZY recycling symbol German Symbol, but commonly seen. Cardboard that is accepted by cardboard recyclers.
The 'Ecolabel' European Ecolabel. The label indicates ‘rigorous environmental criteria and proper fitness for use', but it does not necessarily mean that a product contains any recycled content.
The Soil Assn logo The Soil Association Organic Standard. Certifies the product is of a standard set down by the Soil Association.
The crossed out wheely bin symbol Shows that a product must be disposed of separately from other household waste, under the WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) directive.
The tidyman image Do not litter. Suggests that the item should be disposed of carefully and thoughtfully.
The FSC logo The FSC logo identifies products that contain wood from well-managed forests independently certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council.
ThGreen Dot symbol The ‘Green Dot' shows that the manufacturer has made a contribution to the recycling of packaging. It does not necessarily mean the product can be recycled.

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