Plastic Recycling Numbers Explained: Which Ones Really Get Recycled?

If you’ve ever flipped a plastic container over and noticed a small triangle with a number inside, you’re not crazy for wondering what it actually means.

Most people have seen them.
Very few people understand them.

These tiny numbers might look like a recycling symbol, but in reality, they are resin identification codes, and they don’t always mean that the item is recyclable in your city.

In 2025, with recycling programs becoming stricter across the United States, understanding these plastic numbers is no longer optional. Putting the wrong type of plastic in the bin is one of the main reasons recycling gets rejected.

This guide will explain, in simple human terms, exactly what each plastic number means, which ones are commonly accepted, and which ones should almost always go in the trash.

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First, What Are These Plastic Numbers Actually?

The numbers inside the triangle (1 through 7) identify the type of plastic resin the item is made from. They do NOT automatically mean “recyclable.”

They were created originally for manufacturers to identify materials more easily, not for consumers to sort waste. But over time, they became associated with recycling.

Unfortunately, this has caused a lot of confusion.

If you’re still unsure about the basic difference between recycling and trash, this guide is a good place to start:

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♻️ Number 1 – PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

Common examples:

• Water bottles
• Soda bottles
• Juice bottles
• Salad dressing containers

✅ This is the MOST commonly recycled plastic in the U.S.

It is accepted in almost every recycling program across the country.

However, this only applies if the item is:

• Empty
• Rinsed
• Free of food or liquid

If a #1 plastic container is filled with grease or sticky residue, it becomes trash.

So yes, #1 is highly recyclable — but only when clean.

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♻️ Number 2 – HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

Common examples:

• Milk jugs
• Laundry detergent bottles
• Shampoo bottles
• Cleaning product containers

✅ Another plastic that is widely accepted in recycling programs.

It’s very valuable in the recycling industry because it can be turned into:

• New containers
• Plastic lumber
• Outdoor furniture
• Non-food packaging

✅ In most U.S. cities, #1 and #2 are your safest recycling plastics.

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⚠️ Number 3 – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Common examples:

• Plastic pipes
• Shrink wrap
• Some food packaging
• Blister packs (pill packs)

🚫 This plastic is rarely accepted in household recycling.

PVC contains chemicals that make it dangerous to recycle in standard systems. It can contaminate entire loads.

Even if it has a recycling symbol, #3 usually belongs in the trash.

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⚠️ Number 4 – LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)

Common examples:

• Plastic bags
• Plastic wrap
• Bread bags
• Squeeze bottles

🚫 Most curbside programs do NOT accept #4 plastics.

The biggest problem? These soft plastics get tangled in sorting machines.

You should never put:

• Grocery bags
• Plastic wrap
• Bubble wrap

in your recycling bin, even if the number says 4.

If they are recyclable, it’s usually through store drop-off programs, not curbside.

⚠️/✅ Number 5 – PP (Polypropylene)

Common examples:

• Yogurt cups
• Medicine bottles
• Ketchup bottles
• Takeout containers

This is a tricky one.

Some cities accept #5… others don’t.

It is becoming more accepted in 2025 than it was in the past, but you must check your local rules first.

This is a great example of why guessing can get your bin rejected.

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🚫 Number 6 – PS (Polystyrene / Styrofoam)

Common examples:

• Styrofoam cups
• Takeout containers
• Packing peanuts
• Foam packaging

🚫 This is almost NEVER recyclable in curbside programs.

Even if it has a #6 with a triangle on it, it almost always belongs in the trash.

Why?

It is:

• Too light
• Hard to compact
• Too expensive to process

Some specialty centers accept it, but your regular blue bin does not.

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❓ Number 7 – Other (Mixed Plastics)

This is the most confusing category.

Common examples:

• Multilayer packaging
• Mixed-material plastics
• Hard plastic items
• Odd-shaped containers

🚫 In most cases, #7 plastics should go in the trash.

They are difficult to separate and can contain multiple resin types in a single object.

Unless your city clearly says “We accept #7 plastics,” don’t put them in the recycling bin.

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So… Which Numbers Should You Actually Recycle?

Here’s the simple answer:

✅ Usually recycle:
1 – PET
2 – HDPE
(and in some cities) 5 – PP

🚫 Usually trash:
3 – PVC
4 – LDPE (bags/wrap)
6 – Styrofoam
7 – Mixed plastics

If you only remember ONE thing, remember this:

Clean #1 and #2 are safe. Everything else: check your city first.

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Why Cities Are Getting Stricter With Plastic

In the past, the U.S. used to send much of its plastic waste overseas. Today, many of those countries no longer accept it.

This means cities now have to:

• Process more plastic internally
• Pay more for sorting
• Be stricter about contamination
• Reject more incorrect materials

As a result, the wrong plastic in a bin doesn’t just disappear anymore — it creates real problems.

That’s why knowing the numbers now matters more than ever.

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How Plastic Numbers Connect to Your Whole System

Understanding plastic numbers helps you:

✅ Reduce bin rejection
✅ Improve recycling effectiveness
✅ Lower landfill impact
✅ Prevent pickup refusal
✅ Avoid fines in strict cities

Everything ties together into one complete resource hub.

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A Simple Cheat Sheet (Save This)

Here’s the ultra-simple version you can follow at home:

• Bottles & milk jugs? → Recycle
• Plastic bags? → Trash (or store drop-off)
• Foam? → Trash
• Dirty containers? → Trash
• Mixed/odd plastic? → Trash
• Not sure? → Trash

It sounds harsh… but it’s actually better than contaminating the whole recycling system.

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Final Thoughts

Those tiny numbers on plastic aren’t just random. They are one of the most important keys to proper recycling.

Now that you understand them, you’re no longer guessing. You’re making informed, correct decisions — and that has a real impact on your city and environment.