Infographic: Plastic Recycling Codes

You’ve seen them on your plastics, the chasing arrows with a number in the middle. But do you know what they mean? While some people call them plastic recycling codes, they are actually resin identification codes. They identify the type of plastic the product is made from, which is important to know before an item can be recycled.

However, contrary to popular belief, just because an item carries one of these codes does not mean you should put it in your recycling bin. In fact, you may not be able to recycle it at all, despite the code. If you want to know which plastics you can place in your curbside bin, please check with your local recycling service provider. The types of plastics accepted for recycling vary by location, and wishcycling does more harm than good.

Here is a quick explanation of what kinds of plastics the resin identification codes identify.

Originally published on June 5, 2018, this post was updated in February 2022.