Recycling codes are used to identify the material from which an item is made, to facilitate easier recycling or other reprocessing. Such symbols have been defined for batteries, biomatter/organic material, glass, metals, paper, and plastics.
| Symbol | Code | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastics (see resin identification code[1]) | |||
| #1 PET(E) | Polyethylene terephthalate | Polyester fibers, soft drink bottles | |
| #2 PEHD or HDPE | High-density polyethylene | Plastic bottles, plastic bags, trash cans, imitation wood | |
| #3 PVC | Polyvinyl chloride | Window frames, bottles for chemicals, flooring | |
| #4 PELD or LDPE | Low-density polyethylene | Plastic bags, buckets, soap dispenser bottles, plastic tubes | |
| #5 PP | Polypropylene | Bumpers, car interior trim, industrial fibers | |
| #6 PS | Polystyrene | Toys, flower pots, video cassettes, ashtrays, trunks | |
| #7 O(ther) | All other plastics | ||
| #9 or #ABS | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | Monitor/TV cases, coffee makers, cell phones, most computer plastic | |
| Batteries (see also battery recycling) | |||
| #8 Lead | Lead–acid battery | ||
| #9 or #19 Alkaline | Alkaline battery | ||
| #10 NiCD | Nickel–cadmium battery | ||
| #11 NiMH | Nickel–metal hydride battery | ||
| #12 Li | Lithium battery | ||
| #13 SO(Z) | Silver-oxide battery | ||
| #14 CZ | Zinc–carbon battery | ||
| Paper | |||
| #20 C PAP (PCB) | Cardboard | ||
| #21 PAP | Other paper | Mixed paper magazines, mail | |
| #22 PAP | Paper | ||
| #23 PBD (PPB) | Paperboard | Greeting cards, frozen food boxes, book covers | |
| Metals | |||
| #40 FE | Steel | ||
| #41 ALU | Aluminium | ||
| Biomatter/Organic material | |||
| #50 FOR | Wood | ||
| #51 FOR | Cork | Bottle stoppers, place mats, construction material | |
| #60 COT | Cotton | ||
| #61 TEX | Jute | ||
| #62-69 TEX | Other Textiles | ||
| Glass | |||
| #70 GLS | Mixed Glass Container/Multi-Part Container | ||
| #71 GLS | Clear Glass | ||
| #72 GLS | Green Glass | ||
| #73 GLS | Dark Sort Glass | ||
| #74 GLS | Light Sort Glass | ||
| #75 GLS | Light Leaded Glass | Televisions, high-end electronics display glass | |
| #76 GLS | Leaded Glass | Older televisions, ash trays, older beverage holders | |
| #77 GLS | Copper Mixed/Copper Backed Glass | Electronics, LCD Display heads, Clocks/Watches | |
| #78 GLS | Silver Mixed/Silver Backed Glass | Mirrors, formal table settings | |
| #79 GLS | Gold Mixed/Gold Backed Glass | Computer glass, formal table settings | |
| #81 PapPet | paper + plastic | consumer packaging, pet food bags, cold store grocery bags, Icecream containers, cardboard cans, disposable plates | |
| #84 PapAl | paper + aluminium | liquid storage containers, juice boxes, cardboard cans, Cigarette pack liners, gum wrappers, cartage shells for blanks, fireworks colouring material. | |
| #87 Card-stock Laminate | Biodegradable plastic | laminating material, special occasion cards, bookmarks, business cards, flyers/advertising | |