| Symbol | Type of plastic | Common uses | Could be recycled to |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) |
Soft drink and water bottles, salad domes, biscuit trays, salad dressing and peanut butter containers | Pillow and sleeping bag filling, clothing, soft drink bottles, carpet |
 |
PE-HD (High Density Polyethylene) |
Crinkly shopping bags, freezer bags, milk bottles, ice cream containers, juice bottles, shampoo, chemical and detergent bottles, buckets, rigid detergent bottles, rigid agricultural pipe, milk crates | Recycling bins, compost bins, buckets, detergent containers, posts, fencing, pipe |
 |
PVC-U (Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride) |
Cosmetic containers, electrical conduit, plumbing pipes and fittings, blister packs, wall cladding, roof sheeting, bottles | Flooring, film and sheets, cables, speed bumps, packaging, binders, mud flaps and mats |
|
PVC-P (Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride) |
Garden hose, shoe soles, cable sheathing, blood bags and tubing, watch straps | Flooring, film and sheets, cables, speed bumps, packaging, binders, mud flaps and mats |
 |
PE-LD (Low density Polyethylene) |
Plastic food wrap, garbage bags, squeeze bottles, black irrigation tube, black mulch film, garbage bins | Rubbish bin liners, pallet sheets |
 |
PP (Polypropylene) |
Dip pottles and ice cream tubs, potato chip bags, straws, microwave dishes, kettles, garden furniture, lunch boxes, blue packing tape | Pegs, bins, pipes, pallet sheets, oil funnels, car battery cases, trays |
 |
PS (Polystyrene) |
CD cases, plastic cutlery, imitation 'crystal glassware', low cost brittle toys, video cases | Coat-hangers, coasters, whiteware, components, stationery trays and accessories |
 |
PS-E (Expanded Polystyrene) |
Foamed polystyrene hot drink cups, hamburger takeaway clamshells, foamed meat trays, protective packaging for fragile items | Coat hangers, coasters, white ware, components, stationery trays and accessories |
 |
Other - letters below the symbol indicate the ISO code for the plastic type | Car parts, appliance parts, computers, electronics, water cooler bottles, packaging | Car parts, concrete aggregate, plastic timber |
