What Do Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?
Plastic recycling symbols are the numbered triangle codes (1–7) stamped on plastic packaging. Each number is a Resin Identification Code that names the plastic — PET (1), HDPE (2), PVC (3), LDPE (4), PP (5), PS (6), and Other (7) — and signals how likely that container is to be recycled.
Flip over any takeout container in your kitchen and you'll find a small triangle with a number inside. That mark is one of seven plastic recycling symbols, and it decides whether the container your guest tosses in the blue bin actually gets recycled — or gets landfilled anyway. For foodservice operators, plastic recycling symbols aren't trivia. They determine which packaging complies with local foam bans, which containers your hauler will accept, and what you can honestly print on your menu about sustainability. This guide decodes recycling numbers 1–7 and shows you exactly what each one means when you're buying packaging for a commercial kitchen.
TL;DR — Plastic Recycling Symbols at a Glance
- The symbols are Resin Identification Codes (RICs), created in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry and standardized since 2008 under ASTM D7611.
- They identify what plastic an item is made of — not a guarantee that it will be recycled.
- #1 PET and #2 HDPE are the most widely recycled plastics in the U.S.; #5 PP is increasingly accepted; #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 Other are rarely recycled curbside.
- Overall U.S. plastics recycling sat at 8.7% in 2018, but PET bottles and jars hit 29.1% and HDPE natural bottles 29.3%, per the U.S. EPA — the number on the package matters.
- For foodservice: favor #1, #2, and #5 packaging; phase out #6 foam (banned in a dozen states); and label bins clearly so back-of-house sorting actually works.
What Are the 7 Plastic Recycling Symbols?
The 7 plastic recycling symbols are numbered Resin Identification Codes that classify plastic by polymer type: #1 PET, #2 HDPE, #3 PVC, #4 LDPE, #5 PP, #6 PS, and #7 Other. The chart below is the fastest way to read them on foodservice packaging.
| Code | Resin | Common Foodservice Uses | Curbside Recyclability (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | PET / PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) | Beverage bottles, clear deli and salad containers, cup lids | Widely accepted — highest-value recyclable |
| #2 | HDPE (high-density polyethylene) | Milk jugs, juice bottles, condiment bottles, bus tubs, trash bags | Widely accepted |
| #3 | PVC (polyvinyl chloride) | Some cling wraps, blister packs, tubing | Rarely accepted |
| #4 | LDPE (low-density polyethylene) | Bags, films, squeeze bottles, some flexible lids | Limited — usually store drop-off, not curbside |
| #5 | PP (polypropylene) | Microwavable takeout containers, soup containers, snap-on lids, straws | Growing acceptance in many programs |
| #6 | PS (polystyrene) | Foam clamshells and cups, rigid cutlery, portion cups | Rarely accepted; foam banned in many states |
| #7 | Other (PC, PLA, acrylic, nylon, multi-layer) | Compostable PLA cups, large water jugs, mixed-material packaging | Not recyclable curbside; PLA needs commercial composting |
One clarification that trips up even experienced purchasing managers: a recycling number is an identification mark, not a recyclability promise. The code tells the material recovery facility (MRF) what polymer it's handling. Whether it gets recycled depends on your local program, the item's shape and cleanliness, and whether there's a market for that resin.
What Is a Resin Identification Code?
A resin identification code is the standardized number-in-a-triangle marking that identifies a plastic item's polymer type. The Society of the Plastics Industry introduced the system in 1988, and since 2008 it has been administered by ASTM International as standard ASTM D7611. Notably, ASTM revised the symbol from the familiar "chasing arrows" to a solid equilateral triangle specifically to stop people from reading the mark as a recycling claim. Many molds still carry the old arrows, which is why the confusion persists — but under the current standard, the symbol's only job is to say what the plastic is.
That distinction has legal teeth. Several states now restrict "chasing arrows" imagery on packaging that isn't actually recyclable locally, so knowing your plastic recycling numbers' meaning protects you from greenwashing claims as well as contamination fees.
Resin Identification Codes Explained, Code by Code
#1 PET — Polyethylene Terephthalate
PET is the clear, lightweight plastic used in beverage bottles, salad domes, and deli containers. Is PET (#1) plastic recyclable? Yes — PET is the most commonly recycled plastic in the United States. The EPA reports a 29.1% recycling rate for PET bottles and jars (2018, the most recent national dataset) — more than triple the 8.7% rate for plastics overall. Recycled PET (rPET) becomes new bottles, clamshells, and polyester fiber. For operators, clear #1 deli containers and grab-and-go cups are among the safest "recyclable" claims you can make, provided they go in the bin empty and reasonably clean.
#2 HDPE — High-Density Polyethylene
HDPE is the sturdy, chemical-resistant plastic in milk jugs, juice bottles, condiment squeeze bottles, and heavy-duty can liners. Is HDPE (#2) plastic recyclable? Yes — natural (uncolored) HDPE bottles reached a 29.3% recycling rate in 2018 per the EPA, essentially tied with PET as America's most-recycled consumer plastic. Rigid #2 bottles are accepted in nearly every curbside program. Pigmented HDPE has slightly lower market value but is still widely collected. In a commercial kitchen, #2 shows up constantly: bulk sauce jugs, sanitizer bottles, and storage containers.
#3 PVC — Polyvinyl Chloride
PVC is a rigid or flexible chlorinated plastic found in some cling films, blister packaging, and tubing. It is rarely accepted in curbside recycling because chlorine contamination ruins other resin streams — a single PVC bottle can degrade an entire bale of PET. Most foodservice distributors, Restaurantware included, have moved away from PVC food packaging; if you're still receiving #3-coded film or containers from a supplier, that's a line item worth switching.
#4 LDPE — Low-Density Polyethylene
LDPE is the soft, flexible polyethylene in produce bags, bread bags, films, and squeeze bottles. Are number 4 plastics recyclable? Technically yes, but rarely curbside — flexible film tangles MRF sorting equipment, so most programs exclude it. LDPE bags and films are recyclable through store drop-off and commercial film-collection programs instead. Restaurants that bale their shrink wrap and pallet film can often sell or free-haul it through their distributor's reverse logistics — worth asking, because film is one of the highest-volume plastics in a busy back-of-house.
#5 PP — Polypropylene
PP is the heat-tolerant workhorse of takeout: microwavable containers, soup cups with snap-on lids, portion cups, and straws. Is PP (#5) plastic recyclable? Increasingly, yes. Polypropylene acceptance has expanded significantly as end markets for recycled PP have grown, and many major U.S. programs now take rigid #5 containers curbside — though acceptance still varies by municipality, so check locally. PP's combination of microwave safety, durability, and improving recyclability is why it has become the default resin for premium reusable-style takeout containers.
#6 PS — Polystyrene
PS appears in two forms: expanded foam (EPS — foam clamshells and cups) and rigid polystyrene (clear hinged containers, some cutlery). Which plastic code is not recyclable in practice? #6 is the leading answer. Foam is about 95% air, making it uneconomical to collect and transport, and nearly all curbside programs reject it. Regulation has followed the economics: a dozen states — including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, Oregon, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maine, and Vermont — have enacted statewide bans on EPS foam foodservice containers (tracked list here). If foam clamshells are still in your supply chain, plan the transition now rather than under a compliance deadline.
#7 Other — Everything Else
Code #7 is the catch-all for resins that don't fit codes 1–6: polycarbonate, acrylic, nylon, multi-layer laminates, and — importantly for foodservice — PLA bioplastic. A #7 marking means "not recyclable curbside" in almost every U.S. program. Note the PLA nuance: compostable PLA cups and containers carry a #7 (sometimes with "PLA" lettering) and belong in commercial composting, never the recycling bin, where they contaminate the PET stream. If you run compostable packaging, our ultimate guide to compostable PLA plastic tableware covers how to keep those streams separate.
Which Plastic Numbers Are Actually Recyclable?
Plastics #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) are recyclable in virtually every U.S. curbside program, and #5 (PP) is accepted in a growing majority. Codes #3, #4, #6, and #7 are generally not recyclable curbside. Here's the honest hierarchy operators should buy against:
- Recycle with confidence: #1 PET bottles and rigid containers; #2 HDPE bottles and jugs.
- Recycle in most areas (verify locally): #5 PP rigid containers and lids.
- Special streams only: #4 LDPE film via store drop-off or baled commercial collection; #7 PLA via commercial composting.
- Assume landfill: #3 PVC, #6 PS (both forms), and non-PLA #7.
Keep the national context in mind: the EPA's most recent national figures show the U.S. generated 35.7 million tons of plastics in 2018 — 12.2% of all municipal solid waste — and recycled just 8.7% of it. The gap between that 8.7% average and PET's 29.1% is the entire argument for reading recycling numbers 1–7 before you order packaging: choosing the right resin roughly triples the odds your packaging gets a second life. Shape and cleanliness matter too — a greasy container of any number is headed for the landfill, which is why front-of-house bin signage and a quick-scrape policy pay off.
What Do Recycling Symbols Mean for Foodservice Packaging?
For foodservice packaging, recycling symbols are a purchasing filter: they tell you which containers support a legitimate sustainability claim, which comply with state packaging laws, and which will contaminate your recycling stream. In 15+ years supplying 40,000+ foodservice operations, we've seen the same pattern repeatedly at Restaurantware: operators who standardize on one or two resins — usually #1 PET for cold and #5 PP for hot — cut packaging SKUs, simplify bin signage, and stop paying contamination surcharges. Operators running six resins across their menu almost always have a recycling stream their hauler quietly landfills.
The commercial case is real. According to the National Restaurant Association's 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report, 90% of off-premises customers say they'd order a greater variety of items if the restaurant used upgraded packaging, and more than half — including 60% of Gen Z and millennial adults — will pay extra for packaging that maintains food quality. Guests are literally reading the bottoms of your containers.
Here's how we translate the codes into buying decisions:
- Cold grab-and-go, deli, salads: clear #1 PET containers — premium look, best-in-class recyclability. Our recyclable plastic tableware for businesses lineup is built around this logic.
- Hot entrées, soups, microwave-safe takeout: #5 PP containers with snap-on lids — heat tolerance plus improving curbside acceptance.
- Films, liners, bags: #2 HDPE and #4 LDPE — recycle through commercial film programs, not curbside bins.
- Replace on sight: #6 foam clamshells and cups (ban exposure) and #3 PVC films.
- Compost-forward concepts: #7 PLA — only if you have verified commercial composting access; otherwise it's greenwashing.
Our foodservice customers consistently tell us the operational unlock isn't the packaging itself — it's the sorting infrastructure behind it. Clearly labeled trash cans & recycling bins at bussing stations and in the dish pit, matched to the two or three resins you actually use, do more for your diversion rate than any single container swap. Browse our full plastic packaging collection with resin types listed on every product page, or start with the eco friendly disposables collection if you're moving toward compostables.
Two adjacent reads if you're building a full packaging strategy: our breakdown of the 6 types of plastics used in food packaging goes deeper on material performance (clarity, heat, barrier properties), and our guide to eliminating single-use products in your restaurant covers the reuse side of the equation. If you're also auditing chemical safety, see our guide to purchasing restaurant supplies with no PFAS added.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 recycling symbols?
The 7 recycling symbols are the Resin Identification Codes: #1 PET (beverage bottles, deli containers), #2 HDPE (milk jugs, condiment bottles), #3 PVC (some films and blister packs), #4 LDPE (bags and films), #5 PP (microwavable takeout containers), #6 PS (foam and rigid polystyrene), and #7 Other (polycarbonate, PLA, and mixed resins).
What is the 5 symbol on plastic containers?
The #5 symbol means the container is polypropylene (PP) — a heat-resistant, microwave-safe plastic used for soup containers, takeout boxes, and snap-on lids. PP is accepted for recycling in a growing majority of U.S. curbside programs, though acceptance still varies by city.
Which plastic code is not recyclable?
Codes #3 (PVC), #6 (PS), and #7 (Other) are generally not recyclable in U.S. curbside programs. #6 foam polystyrene is the most problematic — it's about 95% air, uneconomical to process, and now banned for foodservice use in a dozen states. #7 PLA bioplastic is compostable in commercial facilities but never recyclable.
Are number 4 plastics recyclable?
Number 4 (LDPE) plastics are recyclable, but usually not curbside. Flexible LDPE film jams sorting machinery, so it must go through store drop-off bins or commercial film-collection programs. Rigid #4 items are accepted in some municipal programs — check locally before adding them to your bin signage.
What country throws away the most plastic?
The United States generates the most plastic waste of any country — an estimated 42 million metric tons in 2016, according to a peer-reviewed study in Science Advances. That's more than all EU member states combined, which is why U.S. foodservice packaging choices carry outsized impact.
Do plastic recycling symbols mean an item will be recycled?
No. Plastic recycling symbols identify the resin; they do not guarantee recycling. Under ASTM D7611, the mark is a solid triangle (not chasing arrows) precisely to prevent that misreading. Whether an item is recycled depends on your local program, the item's condition, and resin markets — which is why #1 and #2 far outperform the rest.
Why do plastic recycling symbols matter for restaurants?
They determine legal compliance (state foam bans and labeling laws), hauler acceptance (contamination fees), and marketing claims (what you can honestly call "recyclable"). With half of consumers using disposable food packaging at least weekly, per Foodservice Packaging Institute data cited by the National Restaurant Association, the codes on your containers are a customer-facing brand signal.
Conclusion
Plastic recycling symbols are a purchasing language, and now you speak it: #1 and #2 recycle almost everywhere, #5 is on the rise, and #3, #6, and #7 need an exit plan or a compost stream. Standardize on two or three resins, label your bins to match, and verify every "recyclable" claim against what your local hauler actually accepts. When you're ready to put the codes to work, shop plastic packaging with resin types listed on every product page, outfit your stations from our trash cans & recycling bins collection, or go further with eco friendly disposables — and turn the little triangle on the bottom of your containers into a selling point instead of a liability.
