Plastic Resin Codes (1–7)
Check locally →The number tells recycling facilities what type of plastic it is, not whether you can recycle it.
Which bin?
Plastics 1, 2, and 5: recycling bin. Plastic 4: supermarket collection point. Plastics 3, 6, 7: usually general waste.
What does it mean?
The number inside the triangle identifies the type of plastic resin. It was designed for recycling facilities, not consumers, but it's still useful. In the UK, plastics 1 (PET), 2 (HDPE), and 5 (PP) are widely recycled at kerbside. Plastic 4 (LDPE) can usually be taken to supermarket collection points. Plastics 3 (PVC), 6 (PS/polystyrene), and 7 (other) are rarely collected at kerbside. Important: the triangle of arrows does NOT mean "recyclable". It's just how the number is displayed.
Variants
1 · PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Recycling binWidely recycled. Used for drinks bottles, food trays, and salad containers.
Rinse and put in your recycling bin.
2 · HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Recycling binWidely recycled. Used for milk bottles, cleaning product bottles, and some bags.
Rinse and put in your recycling bin.
3 · PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
General wasteNot typically collected at kerbside. Used for pipes, window frames, and some food wraps.
General waste bin. Not accepted in most kerbside recycling.
4 · LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Supermarket returnTake to supermarket collection points. Used for carrier bags, bread bags, and wrapping.
Take to a supermarket collection point. Not usually accepted in your kerbside recycling bin.
5 · PP (Polypropylene)
Recycling binWidely recycled. Used for food tubs, yoghurt pots, and microwaveable containers.
Rinse and put in your recycling bin.
6 · PS (Polystyrene)
General wasteNot typically collected at kerbside. Used for takeaway containers, foam cups, and packaging.
General waste bin. Not accepted in most kerbside recycling.
7 · Other
General wasteRarely recyclable in standard collections. Covers everything else.
General waste bin in most cases. Check with your council for specialist recycling options.
What councils’ own lists say
Counted from the lists and containers of the 182 councils we have checked. The councils on the smaller side are named, each linked to its page. See every material compared.
Plastic bottles: all 135 councils whose lists say either way take them.
Plastic pots, tubs and trays: 108 of the 113 councils whose lists say either way take them.
Do not take them: East Hampshire, Liverpool, Northumberland, Portsmouth and Winchester.
Plastic bags: 26 of the 119 councils whose lists say either way take them.
Take them: Blaby, Braintree, Cambridge, Camden, Charnwood, Chelmsford, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Guildford, Hinckley and Bosworth, Kingston upon Hull, Leeds and 14 more.
Plastic film: 18 of the 102 councils whose lists say either way take it.
Take it: Blaby, Braintree, Charnwood, Chelmsford, Glasgow, Hastings, Hinckley and Bosworth, Leeds, Mid Suffolk, North Somerset, North Warwickshire, Nottingham and 6 more.
Polystyrene: none of the 115 councils whose lists say either way take it.
Black plastic: 2 of the 26 councils whose lists say either way take it.
Take it: Chelmsford and North Lanarkshire.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Plastic Resin Codes (1–7) symbol mean?
The number tells recycling facilities what type of plastic it is, not whether you can recycle it.
Which bin do items with this symbol go in?
Plastics 1, 2, and 5: recycling bin. Plastic 4: supermarket collection point. Plastics 3, 6, 7: usually general waste.