Plastic Recycling Symbols – What Do They Mean?

Currently, about 5 million tons of plastic are used in the UK each year. Although awareness of the problem of plastic waste has reached a much higher profile in recent years, many people are still unsure about plastic waste recycling and which materials can be recycled.

The UK government has recently announced an environment bill that will document the legal framework that supports its commitment to combating plastic waste and protecting the environment. The UK Plastics Pact has attracted support from many major retailers, and inspired others to make pledges about reducing their use of single-use plastics.

Overall, individual households in the UK produce about 55Kg of plastic waste each year, according to WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme), but a recent survey by Which found that although the public is keen to recycle, there is a great deal of confusion about the practicalities and what the different packaging recycling symbols mean.

The Möbius Loop which is represented by three green arrows in a triangular formation means that the item is suitable for plastic waste recycling. The survey by Which indicated that 73% of respondents knew this. However, while this percentage is encouraging, there is no guarantee that citizens’ compliance with recycling these items would result in a new recycled product, unless local authorities have suitable facilities to do so.

A green square with a white circular arrow indicates that the item is widely recycled by 75% or more of local authorities. The same arrow on a black square background means that the plastic packaging is not collected by all local authorities, so you should check local rules. The same symbol with a line through it indicates that the packaging is recycled by less than 20% of local authorities.

The Green Dot symbol that is often found on packaging indicates that the company that produced the item has joined a scheme supporting recycling and the use of sustainable materials. It does not mean that the item is suitable for recycling, although 48% of people in Which’s survey thought that it did.

There are four main types of plastic that are commonly used in packaging in the UK. These are Polyethylene Terephthalate, High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, and Polypropylene Polyethylene. Polyethylene Terephthalate, also known as PET, is rigid but flexible, and also airtight, which makes it suitable for food and drink packaging. High-Density Polyethene, or HDPE, is used for packaging such as shampoo bottles and milk cartons, while Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is commonly used for plastic carrier bags. Polypropylene (PP) is often used to manufacture containers such as ready meal trays and margarine tubs. Of these, HDPE, LDPE and PET are the easiest to recycle. Some other plastics such as PVC and polystyrene are more difficult to process and less likely to be suitable for recycling in the UK, as are plastic compounds which may contain a mixture of plastics.

Not all plastics are recyclable. Items such as crisp packets and salad bags are designed in an air tight package with multiple polymer layers to prevent gases from escaping. Although this is an effective way to preserve the contents, the multiple polymers make the bags nearly impossible to recycle.

For more information you can learn more from our Education Hub; we also address common plastic myths such as plastic waste facts and further information about plastics recycling.