Categorisation of Recyclable Plastics

Published on 20/10/2011

In order to make sorting and recycling easier, the plastic materials have been categorized in seven types based on its properties and applications. Some recycling standards marking codes have been developed which are universally accepted to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic. The symbols defined by society of the Plastic Industry (SPI) USA and available in the IS 14535:1998 of BIS are shown in table 4:

Table 1: CATEGORIZATION OF PLASTICS

Codes Properties Packaging Applications Recycled Products
  Clarity, strength,toughness, barrier togas and moisture,resistance to heat Packaged drinking bottles andsoft drink bottles Packaged drinking bottles and soft drink bottles
  Stiffness, strength,toughness, resistanceto chemicals andmoisture, permeabilityto gas, ease ofprocessing Raffia bags, knitted fabrics,water, gas and sewer pipes,small volume bottles to largebarrels, house wares, storagebins, caps and closures,shopping bags, etc. Flower pots, trash cans, traffic cones, detergent bottles, soap cases, other household items, etc.
  Versatility, clarity,eases of blending,strength, toughness,resistance to grease,oil and chemicals. pharmaceutical tabletpackaging, potable waterpipes and irrigation pipes andfittings, door and windowprofiles, cables, floorings,medical products like bloodbags, footwear, etc. Footwear, irrigation and other drainage pipes, mats, etc.
  Ease of processing,strength, toughness,flexibility, ease ofsealing, barrier tomoisture. Wide width films, agriculturefilms and pipes, heavy dutybags, shrink films, cableinsulation and sheathing,extrusion coating, liquidpackaging, etc. Grocery bags, shelter films, household items, etc.
  Strength, toughness,resistance to heat,chemicals, grease andoil, versatile, barrier tomoisture. Raffia, monofilaments,strapping, automobile batteriesand automobile components,luggage and furniture, combs,ball pens, injection syringe,etc. Plastic lumber, household goods, luggage, etc.
  Versatility, insulation,clarity, easily formed Disposable cups, packagingmaterials, meat trays, audiovisual cassettes, etc. Plastic lumber, cassette tape boxes, flower pots, etc.
  Dependent on resin orcombination of resins The category includes otherplastics like nylon, ABS, PolyAcetals, Polycarbonate, Recycling of these high value plastics are special in nature.

Source: IS 14535: 1998 & ICPE Newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Apr- Jan 2005.

This table shows the types of typical thermoplastic and thermosetting resins:

Table 3: TYPICAL THERMOPLASTIC AND THERMOSETTING RESINS

S.No. THERMO PLASTIC S.No. THERMOSET PLASTIC
1. Polyethylene Tetraphthalate (PET) 1. Bakelite
2. Polypropylene (PP) 2. Epoxy
3. Poly Vinyl Acetate (PVA) 3. Melamine
4. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) 4. Polyester
5. Polystyrene (PS) 5. Polyurethane
6. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) 6. Urea – Formaldehyde
7. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

               Source: Central Pollution Control Board

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2 COMMENTS

  1. This particular page “Categorisation of Recyclable Plastics | Environment and Waste Management” is interesting on http://www.wealthywaste.com. I commonly utilize ‘fire caulk’ in order to caulk around floor penetrations as part of structures and also have utilized it through sealing flue pipe also. It is usually red in color.

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