That small triangle with a number stamped into the bottom of a bottle, tub, or clamshell is one of the most misunderstood symbols in packaging. Most people read it as a recycling promise. It isn’t — and knowing the difference can save your business from a labeling headache and help your customers actually recycle correctly.
This guide breaks down what a resin identification code is, what each of the seven numbers (1 through 7) means, which ones are actually accepted by most recycling programs, how the code differs from the recycling symbol it’s often confused with, and how the rules around it are changing right now.
Quick Answer
A resin identification code (RIC) is the number, 1 through 7, molded inside the triangle on a plastic item; it identifies which resin — the raw plastic material — the item is made from, so recycling facilities can sort it correctly. It is defined by the ASTM D7611 standard and is not a guarantee that the item is recyclable in your area.
Of the seven codes, #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) are the most consistently accepted in curbside recycling programs across North America. #5 (PP) is increasingly accepted but varies by city. #3, #4, #6, and #7 are rarely accepted curbside and usually require drop-off or specialty recycling.
What Is a Resin Identification Code?
A resin identification code is a standardized marking system, created so that recyclers and sorters could quickly tell one plastic resin from another without chemical testing. It’s not a brand, a certification, or an environmental claim — it’s closer to a material spec stamped onto the product itself.
The current version of the code is governed by ASTM D7611, ‘Standard Practice for Coding Plastic Manufactured Articles for Resin Identification.’ Under that standard, a complete resin identification code has three parts: the solid triangle outline, the resin identification number (1-7), and the abbreviated material name (like ‘PETE’ or ‘HDPE’) printed beneath it. The standard is explicit that these codes are not recycle codes, and that manufacturers should not place the word ‘recyclable’ or similar claims directly next to the symbol.
The 7 Resin Codes and Recycling Symbols 1-7, Explained
Resin code 1 — PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate): used for water and soda bottles, most food jars, and salad clamshells. It’s the most commonly recycled plastic in curbside programs and gets reprocessed into new bottles, polyester fiber for clothing and carpet, and fill for jackets.
Resin code 2 — HDPE (high-density polyethylene): milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles, and many rigid totes. It’s sturdy, resists chemicals, and is widely accepted curbside; recycled HDPE commonly becomes pipe, buckets, and lumber-style decking.
Resin code 3 — PVC (polyvinyl chloride): pipes, some cling wraps, blister packaging, and vinyl siding. It’s rarely accepted in curbside bins because it can contaminate other recycling streams (it releases chlorine compounds when melted with other plastics) and requires separate specialty processing.
Resin code 4 — LDPE (low-density polyethylene): squeezable bottles, bread bags, and most plastic shopping and produce bags. Curbside programs generally don’t want it loose because it jams sorting machinery; many grocery stores run dedicated film-and-bag drop-off bins instead.
Resin code 5 — PP (polypropylene): yogurt cups, medicine bottles, bottle caps, and microwavable containers. Acceptance has been expanding but is still inconsistent between municipalities, so it’s worth checking local rules before assuming it’s curbside-ready.
Resin code 6 — PS (polystyrene): foam cups, takeout containers, and rigid items like disposable cutlery and CD cases. Both foam and rigid forms are difficult and expensive to recycle profitably, so most curbside programs exclude it entirely.
Resin code 7 — Other: a catch-all for everything that doesn’t fit codes 1-6, including polycarbonate, bioplastics like PLA, and multi-layer or multi-material items. Because ‘other’ covers so many different materials, #7 items are the least likely to be recyclable through standard programs.
Which Resin Identification Codes Are Recyclable?
There’s no single answer that applies everywhere, because recyclability depends on what your local hauler and material recovery facility can actually process and sell — but the codes fall into three rough tiers. Tier one, almost always accepted curbside: #1 PET and #2 HDPE, which have the most mature collection and resale markets in North America.
Tier two, accepted in a growing but inconsistent number of programs: #5 PP, which more cities are adding as sorting technology and end markets improve. Tier three, rarely accepted curbside and usually needing drop-off or specialty recycling: #3 PVC, #4 LDPE (loose film specifically needs store drop-off, not the bin), #6 PS, and #7 Other. The only way to know for certain is to check your specific municipality’s or hauler’s accepted-materials list, since two cities can treat the same code differently.
Resin Identification Code vs. Recycling Symbol: What’s the Difference?
These two symbols look almost identical, which is exactly why they get confused. A resin identification code communicates material composition to sorters; a recycling symbol (the universal three-chasing-arrows loop, sometimes with no number at all) is meant to signal that an item is actually collected, sorted, and reprocessed into new material.
For years, the RIC was displayed inside that same chasing-arrows loop, which most people read as a green recycling seal of approval. ASTM revised the standard in 2013 specifically to swap that symbol for a plain solid triangle, aiming to reduce confusion with the recycling logo — though many manufacturers still haven’t updated their molds, so both versions are still in circulation today. The practical rule of thumb: the RIC tells you what it’s made of; only your local program’s rules tell you whether it’s actually recyclable.
Why the Number Isn’t a Recycling Promise
The system dates to 1988, when the Society of the Plastics Industry created it purely to help sorters identify resin types at recycling facilities — not to tell consumers what’s recyclable. ASTM D7611 states explicitly that resin identification codes are not recycle codes and that their presence doesn’t mean recycling systems exist to actually process that item.
That confusion has now reached state legislatures. California’s SB 343 restricts use of the chasing-arrows symbol, and recyclability claims generally, on packaging unless the material meets specific collection, sorting, and end-market thresholds — rules that in practice would knock out most #3-#7 plastics. As of this writing, SB 343’s labeling restrictions were set to take effect in October 2026, but a federal court has temporarily blocked enforcement while a legal challenge from industry groups proceeds, so the compliance timeline is still in flux. Oregon went further and, through SB 582, repealed its own requirement that plastic containers carry the chasing-arrows symbol and resin code. Washington’s SB 5022 dropped the old requirement that the code sit inside a chasing-arrows triangle, but current law (RCW 70A.220.020) still requires plastic bottles and rigid plastic containers sold in the state to carry a plain numeric resin code. If you design or source packaging, treat any recyclability claim as something you now need to verify against destination-state law, not just habit — this area is moving fast and the rules differ state by state.
Tips / Common Mistakes
Don’t assume the triangle means ‘recyclable’ — always check your local municipality’s or hauler’s accepted-materials list, since rules vary block to block, even within the same state.
Rinse and empty containers before recycling; food residue is one of the most common reasons a load gets rejected at the sorting facility.
Never bag your recyclables in a plastic bag for curbside pickup — loose #4 film jams sorting equipment, which is exactly why grocery store drop-off bins exist for bags and wrap.
If you’re specifying packaging for a product, favor #1 and #2 where the application allows it, since they have the most mature and consistent recycling infrastructure in North America.
If you’re making any recyclability claim on packaging sold into California, Oregon, Washington, or other states with truth-in-labeling recycling laws, confirm the current requirements before printing — labeling law in this area is moving quickly and varies by state.
Explore more packaging materials guides.
resin identification codes 1-7 FAQs
What does resin code 1 mean?
Resin code 1 identifies PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate), the plastic used in most water and soda bottles, food jars, and clamshells. It’s the most widely recycled plastic in curbside programs.
What is a resin identification code?
It’s the number (1-7) molded inside a triangle on a plastic item, defined by ASTM D7611, that tells recyclers which resin the item is made from. It identifies material type, not recyclability.
Which resin identification codes are recyclable?
#1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) are the most consistently accepted curbside. #5 (PP) is increasingly accepted but varies by city. #3, #4, #6, and #7 are rarely accepted curbside and usually need drop-off or specialty recycling. Always confirm with your local program.
What’s the difference between a resin identification code and a recycling symbol?
A resin identification code tells sorters what material an item is made from. A recycling symbol is meant to signal that an item is actually collected and reprocessed. The two look similar and were historically combined, which is a major source of consumer confusion.
Are all 7 plastic resin codes recyclable?
No. The code only identifies the resin type; whether an item is recyclable depends on whether local programs collect and have end markets for that resin. Codes 1, 2, and increasingly 5 have the best acceptance; 3, 4, 6, and 7 are the least likely to be accepted curbside.
Does the number inside the triangle mean an item is recyclable?
No. It identifies the resin type for sorting purposes. Whether it’s actually recyclable depends on your local program’s equipment and end markets.
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