Labellings for plastic

Plastic has firmly settled in our everyday life. Most people associate it with a bottle of soda water, or household cleaning chemicals, or single-use tableware. Yet a lot many more things contain it without you even knowing about it! Let us, though, learn a bit about the basic kinds used for storing food and beverages. Every plastic goods is labelled by a digit, except 0 and 8, in a tiny triangle of curved arrows, letter code given below. These labels mean the following.

• 1, letter code PET or PETE, indicates polyethylene terephthalate, the most common plastic for bottles, jars, single-use vessels and glasses typically meant to contain food, juice, and fresheners. PETE is often used for granular foodstuff. It is quite good for recycling and re-use.
• 2, letter code HDPE, labels high-density polyethylene. This substance is used for milk bags, shampoo bottles, detergents, bleachers, canisters for engine and machinery oils, etc. Recyclable and re-usable.
• 3, letter code V or PVC stand for polyvinylchloride, an all-purpose synthetic polymer, used for packing food fats, dry foodstuff, glass and mirror-washing liquid, but as well for plastic pipes, floor coatings, casement ceilings, toys, bathroom curtains, plastic windows, garden furniture, etc. Indeed, we live in PVC era now and feel no need for change, though we should do some, as this polymer is among the most dangerous ones, its recycling is next to impossible. When being burnt PVC frees hazardous dioxines responsible for cancer diseases. Don’t incinerate it in open fire unless you want to poison the adjacent environment and yourself at the same time.
• 4, letter code LDPE — these labelings mark low-density polyethylene. It is used for packaging, supermarket disposable bags, CDs and DVDs. By 1960s it replaced cellophane altogether. Letters LDPE can be found on large kites (bags), and packagings for diapers and sanitary towels. It can not be stretched without being torn, unlike HDPE. This stuff is recyclable, and re-usable, and the most safe for packing foodstuff.
• 5, letter code PP – polypropylene. Used for plastic caps, sour cream and yoghurt cups, bottles for syrups, ketchup, mustard, infant food, toys, medical goods, packaging, vessels for hot contents, containers for freezing food. The so-called rustlers, that is, bags for cereals, macaroni, biscuits, candies, dried breakfasts, etc. A rustler ruptures once stretched, unlike HDPE. It is hard to recycle it due to complicated decontamination, deodoration and removal of food remnants. Polypropylene cannot be recycled infinitely, only up to four times. 
• 6 and letter code PS are assigned for polystyrene. This one is for poultry and meat underpans, single-use tableware, lunchboxes, foam plastic. Emits carcinogenes when heated, just as PVC. At the same time, this is why one should avoid pouring alcohol into PS vessel. The recycling procedure, generally pelleting, is chosen depending on the condition of substance. Foam plastic, for instance, can be re-used at once if its dimensions are sufficient. Be attentive and always see the bottom, as some vessels are made of polypropylene (РР-6). 
• Plastic tableware labelled РР means polypropylene. It is suitable for microwave oven and hot liquids, though alcohol causes it to emit phenol and formaldehyde, the substances that lead to eyesight loss. The triangle formed by curved arrows indicated that food vessel is made from recycled materials. The number inside the triangle says what this material exactly is: plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, wood, fabric, glass. The plastic vessel marked with goblet-and-fork icon is good for hot contents, that is, for heating and storing hot food. Crossed-out icon prompts this item is not to be contacted with provision.
• 7, letter code OTHER — a mixture of polymers, among which polycarbonate is sometimes found. Typically present on layered polymer packaging. Once durably used and often washed emits harmful bisphenol-A. Usually non-recyclable.
• 9, letter code ABS – acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, used for computer plastic, smartphone screens, television sets cases. ABS is thermoplast, and thus is recycled through thermal recovery.

One can not completely refuse using plastic. It is household, but as well medical, pharmaceutical, construction material, omnipresent in our smartphones. One needs merely realize the importance of its reasonable use, recycling and utilization.