Plastics

Australians consume more than 1.5 million tonnes of plastic every year - approximately 75 kg for every person. Manufacturing plastics from recycled materials uses just 30% of the energy required to make plastic products from fossil fuels.

What to do:

Plastic items that can be recycled are denoted by a plastics identification code or 'tattoo', which is a number in a triangular chasing arrow symbol. The number denotes the type of plastic used in the product:

1 - "PET" (polyethylene terephthalate) - a clear, tough plastic that may be used as a fibre or to make soft drink, water or juice bottles, and some plastic jars.

2 - "HDPE" (high-density polyethylene) - a very common plastic, is usually white or coloured and is commonly used for milk bottles, cream and juice containers.

3 - "UPVC" (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) - a hard rigid plastic, may be clear, and is commonly used for clear cordial bottles, detergent and shampoo bottles.
3 - "PPVC" (plasticised polyvinyl chloride) - a flexible, clear, elastic plastic commonly used in garden hoses, shoe soles, blood bags, tubing etc.

4 - "LDPE" (low-density polyethylene) - a soft but flexible plastic commonly used for the lids of ice-cream containers, garbage bags and garbage bins.

5 - "PP" (polypropylene) - a hard, but flexible plastic which has many uses, such as ice-cream containers, potato crisp bags, drinking straws and hinged lunch boxes.

6 - "PS" (polystyrene) - a rigid, brittle plastic which may be clear and glassy, and is used in yoghurt containers, plastic cutlery and imitation crystal glassware.
6 - "EPS" (expanded polystyrene) - also known as polystyrene foam or styrofoam, this is a lightweight, energy absorbing, thermal insulating plastic which is commonly used in hot drink cups, takeaway food containers and meat trays.

7 - Includes all other plastics, including nylon and acrylics.

For more information,
Read the Plastics Fact Sheet