Plastic Resin Codes

Over the past few decades, the use of plastic in manufacturing has increased exponentially. From disposable packaging, like bottles and bags, to durable goods, like watches and appliances, many products that were formerly made of “natural” materials are now made of plastic.

Not all plastic, however, is the same. Each type, or resin, has a unique chemical formula which gives it special properties. In 1988 the plastics industry established identification codes to make separation of different polymers easier and more consistent for recycling.

There are seven different types of plastic resins that are commonly used to package household products. The identification codes listed below can be found stamped on most plastic packaging.

Even though CSWD accepts Plastics #1-7, we still cannot accept plastic bags, filmy plastic of any kind (e.g. shrink wrap and bubble wrap) or Styrofoam. We also cannot accept any plastic that does not meet certain dimensions. All plastics to be recycled in Chittenden County need to be a minimum of 2 inches on any two sides, and a maximum  of 2 feet on any one side.

For a complete list of what can be recycled in Chittenden County, see the Recycling List page.

Symbol	Resin Name	Examples	CSWD Rules
	polyethylene terephthalate	soda bottles and most water bottles, some clear containers for juice, ketchup, cooking oil, and salad dressing	Empty bottles and discard caps.
	high density polyethylene	milk and cider jugs, detergent bottles, some dairy tubs, some shampoo bottles, some plastic bags	No plastic bags or other "filmy" plastic allowed, regardless of the number! Empty bottles and discard caps.
	polyvinyl chloride	some household cleaner bottles, some cooking oil bottles
	low density polyethylene	most plastic film bags, most flexible lids, some squeezable plastic containers	No plastic bags or other "filmy" plastic allowed, regardless of the number!
	polypropylene	some dairy tubs and take out containers
	polystyrene	Includes most Styrofoam products such as meat trays, cups, take out containers, packaging blocks and peanuts. Other non-Styrofoam products include dairy tubs and CD cases.	No Styrofoam of any kind allowed.
	other	some squeezable bottles and other packaging made from unusual resins or layers of different resin types	Some items labeled #7 are now made from cornstarch and are NOT recyclable. These items usually also are stamped with "PLA" (polylactic acid) and "compostable."