Plastics #1 and #2 are the most widely recyclable and accepted by nearly all curbside programs in the United States. Plastic #5 is increasingly accepted as well. Plastics #3, #4, #6, and #7 are generally difficult to recycle and rarely collected by municipal programs. That said, local rules vary, so the number on the bottom of a container is only part of the story.
What the Numbers Mean
The small number inside the triangle on plastic products is called a Resin Identification Code. It tells you what type of plastic the item is made from, not whether your local program will take it. There are seven codes, each representing a different material with different melting points, chemical properties, and market demand, all of which affect whether recyclers can actually process it into something new.
Plastics #1 and #2: Widely Accepted
These two are the workhorses of plastic recycling. If a community has curbside recycling at all, it almost certainly accepts both.
#1 (PET) covers most clear beverage bottles: soda, water, cooking oil, and peanut butter jars. It’s lightweight, easy to sort, and has strong market demand because it can be turned into new bottles, polyester fiber, and carpet. The U.S. recycling rate for PET bottles and jars was about 29 percent in 2018, according to the EPA.
#2 (HDPE) is the thicker, often opaque plastic used for milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, and juice containers. It recycled at a nearly identical rate of 29.3 percent that same year. HDPE is valued because it can be reprocessed into pipes, lumber, benches, and new containers. Grocery bags are also made from HDPE, but most curbside programs do not accept them loose in the bin because they tangle sorting machinery. Many grocery stores have drop-off bins for plastic bags instead.
Plastic #5: Growing Acceptance
Polypropylene, or #5, has gained significant ground in recycling programs over the past several years. You’ll find it in yogurt cups, margarine tubs, ketchup bottles, medicine bottles, and takeout containers. It’s sturdy, tolerates heat well, and is increasingly in demand as a recycled material. The EPA now tracks polypropylene containers as a distinct recyclable material category in its national recycling infrastructure mapping, reflecting broader acceptance. Many large municipal programs now include #5 in their curbside collection, though not all do. Check your local program’s list before tossing it in the bin.
Plastics #3, #4, and #6: Rarely Recycled
#3 (PVC) shows up in blister packs, clamshell packaging, and shrink wrap. PVC contains chlorine, which can release harmful chemicals during reprocessing and contaminate other plastics in the recycling stream. Very few programs accept it.
#4 (LDPE) is a soft, flexible plastic found in bread bags, produce bags, trash can liners, squeezable bottles, and some food storage lids. Like grocery bags, LDPE films jam up sorting equipment at recycling facilities. Some of these items can go to store drop-off programs, but curbside bins typically reject them.
#6 (PS) is polystyrene, the material behind foam cups, packing peanuts, meat trays, and disposable plastic cutlery. It’s bulky relative to its weight, which makes it expensive to transport, and it breaks into small fragments that contaminate other recyclables. A handful of specialized facilities process it, but most programs exclude it entirely.
Plastic #7: The Catch-All
Code #7 is labeled “Other” because it covers every plastic that doesn’t fit into categories 1 through 6. This includes certain food containers, reusable water bottles, and some Tupperware-style products. It also includes plant-based plastics sometimes labeled #7/PLA, which are designed to break down in commercial composting facilities, not in recycling streams.
The core problem with #7 is that it lumps together incompatible materials. A conventional #7 plastic will contaminate a batch of compostable #7/PLA, and vice versa. Few communities recycle any code 7 plastics, and compostable versions require processing at specialized high-rate composting facilities that most areas lack. For practical purposes, treat #7 as non-recyclable unless your local program explicitly says otherwise.
How to Prepare Plastics for Recycling
Even accepted plastics get rejected if they’re too contaminated. Food residue on containers can compromise an entire batch of recyclables. You don’t need to scrub containers until they’re spotless, but you should rinse out visible food. A quick swirl of water through a peanut butter jar or yogurt cup is enough. Caps can stay on for #1 and #2 bottles in most programs, though this varies by municipality.
Remove any non-plastic components you can, like paper labels that peel off easily or metal lids on plastic containers. Don’t bag your recyclables in plastic bags. Place items loose in the bin so sorting equipment and workers can identify them.
Why Your Local Program Matters Most
The numbers on plastic tell you what a container is made of, but your local recycling facility determines what it can actually process. A program in a large metro area with newer sorting technology may accept plastics #1 through #5, while a smaller rural facility might only take #1 and #2 bottles. Some programs accept plastic tubs and containers but not plastic cups, even when they carry the same resin code, because the items have different shapes that affect sorting.
Most municipal programs publish an accepted materials list on their website or on the recycling bin itself. When in doubt, leaving a questionable item out of the bin is better than tossing it in. Contamination from non-recyclable plastics slows down processing, increases costs, and can cause entire loads to be sent to landfill instead.