---
title: "Plastic resin codes symbols explained"
description: "Every plastic resin codes symbol and what it means — 10 of them, with what each looks like and what happens if you ignore it."
url: https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Plastic resin codes symbols

10 plastic resin codes symbols, each with what it looks like and what it actually requires.

| Symbol | Looks like | Means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Resin identification code (the number in a triangle) | A small equilateral triangle with a number from 1 to 7 inside it, usually with letters beneath — PET, HDPE, PP. | Which plastic the item is made of. It is not a statement that the item is recyclable. |
| Plastic 1 — PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) | A triangle with 1 inside and PET or PETE printed below. | Polyethylene terephthalate — clear drinks bottles, salad and fruit punnets, oven-ready trays. |
| Plastic 2 — HDPE (high-density polyethylene) | A triangle with 2 inside and HDPE below. Often an opaque or milky bottle rather than a clear one. | High-density polyethylene — milk jugs, detergent and bleach bottles, shampoo, yoghurt drink bottles. |
| Plastic 3 — PVC or V (polyvinyl chloride) | A triangle with 3 inside and PVC or V below. | Polyvinyl chloride — pipe, window frames, blister packs, faux leather, garden hose, some cling film. |
| Plastic 4 — LDPE (low-density polyethylene) | A triangle with 4 inside and LDPE below. Usually a film or a squeezable bottle. | Low-density polyethylene — carrier bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, squeeze bottles, six-pack rings. |
| Plastic 5 — PP (polypropylene) | A triangle with 5 inside and PP below. | Polypropylene — yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, takeaway containers, bottle caps, microwave dishes, kettles. |
| Plastic 6 — PS (polystyrene) | A triangle with 6 inside and PS below. Either rigid and glass-clear, or white expanded foam. | Polystyrene — disposable cups and cutlery, meat trays, foam packaging, CD cases, yoghurt pots in some markets. |
| Plastic 7 — OTHER | A triangle with 7 inside and OTHER or O below, sometimes with a further abbreviation such as PC, PLA or ABS. | Anything that is not codes 1 to 6 — a catch-all, not a material. |
| Plastic 7 marked PC — polycarbonate | A triangle with 7 inside and PC printed below, often on a hard, glass-clear or amber-tinted item. | Polycarbonate — a rigid, transparent, impact-resistant plastic made using bisphenol A. |
| Plastic 7 marked PLA — polylactic acid | A triangle with 7 inside and PLA below, often with a compostable seedling logo alongside. | Polylactic acid — a compostable bioplastic made from fermented plant sugars, usually maize. |

- [Resin identification code (the number in a triangle)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-resin-code/) — Which plastic the item is made of. It is not a statement that the item is recyclable.
- [Plastic 1 — PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-1-pet/) — Polyethylene terephthalate — clear drinks bottles, salad and fruit punnets, oven-ready trays.
- [Plastic 2 — HDPE (high-density polyethylene)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-2-hdpe/) — High-density polyethylene — milk jugs, detergent and bleach bottles, shampoo, yoghurt drink bottles.
- [Plastic 3 — PVC or V (polyvinyl chloride)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-3-pvc/) — Polyvinyl chloride — pipe, window frames, blister packs, faux leather, garden hose, some cling film.
- [Plastic 4 — LDPE (low-density polyethylene)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-4-ldpe/) — Low-density polyethylene — carrier bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, squeeze bottles, six-pack rings.
- [Plastic 5 — PP (polypropylene)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-5-pp/) — Polypropylene — yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, takeaway containers, bottle caps, microwave dishes, kettles.
- [Plastic 6 — PS (polystyrene)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-6-ps/) — Polystyrene — disposable cups and cutlery, meat trays, foam packaging, CD cases, yoghurt pots in some markets.
- [Plastic 7 — OTHER](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-7-other/) — Anything that is not codes 1 to 6 — a catch-all, not a material.
- [Plastic 7 marked PC — polycarbonate](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-7-pc/) — Polycarbonate — a rigid, transparent, impact-resistant plastic made using bisphenol A.
- [Plastic 7 marked PLA — polylactic acid](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/plastic-7-pla/) — Polylactic acid — a compostable bioplastic made from fermented plant sugars, usually maize.