SYMBOLS

What are the logos and Symbols on the bottom of my packaging?

Biocompostable

If you see these symbols - it means you can put the packaging into your compost heap. This is a relatively new symbol found on biocompostable plastic packaging. The symbol signifies that the packaging has been tested, and is suitable for putting into industrial and home compost heaps.

Cardboard

The above symbol, called the Mobius loop, is most commonly found on cardboard packaging and denotes that the item is recyclable. If the centre of the loop contains a number, this means that the item is made from a certain percentage of recycled materials.

Glass

Plastics

There are a wide range of plastics used in packaging. To make sorting and thus recycling easier, the American Society of Plastics Industry developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic. These logos are molded in the plastic and describe the type of plastic used for sorting purposes only. The logos do not indicate that the products are recycled or recyclable. These types and their most common uses are shown below:

Codes	Material	Packaging Application	Recycled Products
	PET	Polyethylene terephthalate- Soda Bottles, Water Bottles, and oven-ready meal trays.	Fiber, tote bags, clothing, film and sheet, food and beverage containers, carpet, strapping, fleece wear, luggage and bottles.
	HDPE	High-density polyethylene- Bottles for milk and cleaning fluids.	Liquid laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner and motor oil bottles; pipe, buckets, crates, flower pots, garden edging, film and sheet, recycling bins, benches, dog houses, plastic lumber, floor tiles, picnic tables, fencing.
	PVC	Polyvinyl chloride- Food trays, cling film, bottles for shampoo.	Packaging, loose-leaf binders, decking, paneling, gutters, mud flaps, film and sheet, floor tiles and mats, resilient flooring, cassette trays, electrical boxes, cables, traffic cones, garden hose, mobile home skirting.
	LDPE	Low density polyethylene- Shopping bags and Garbage Bag liners.	Automobile battery cases, signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, oil funnels, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, sheeting, trays.
	PP	Polypropylene- Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.	Automobile battery cases, signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, oil funnels, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, sheeting, trays.
	PS	Polystyrene- Yoghurt cups, foam meat, poultry or fish trays, egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.	Thermometers, light switch plates, thermal insulation, egg cartons, vents, desk trays, rulers, license plate frames, foam packing, foam plates, cups, utensils.
	OTHER	Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.	Bottles, plastic lumber applications.