Plastic Recycling Code – Which Plastic Codes Can Be Recycled in Australia
The varying recycling codes on plastics can be confusing. One would assume that if the plastic waste has a plastic recycling code on it then it should go in your recycling bin right? sadly wrong. In Australia, most councils only accept codes 1, 2 and 5.
That is the bad news. The good news is that this has been improving. Victoria uses KS Environmental which not only takes all the codes below but also accepts plastic bottle caps.
Call for Action
Please check with your local council about what plastic recycling codes they accept and if they don’t accept all types, push for change.
Also see articles on how to recycle soft plastics (which don’t have a plastic recycling code) and plastic alternatives.
Plastic Recycle Codes
For a list of all the codes and what they mean please see below.
|
Recycle Code |
Plastic Name |
Common Household Items |
 |
PET and PETE – polyethylene terephthalate |
Soft-drink bottles, containers for food and other consumer products, water bottles, peanut butter jars |
 |
HDPE- high density polyethylene |
Milk and juice bottles, dishwashing and laundry detergent, grocery bags |
 |
PVC – polyvinyl chloride |
Bottles, food trays, rigid sheets used for packaging, electrical insulation, irrigation pipes |
 |
LDPE – low-density polyethylene |
Squeeze bottles, wire insulation, grocery bags, trash bags, food storage bags |
 |
PP – polypropylene |
Fruit and vegetable packages, bottle caps, drinking straws (telltale sign: cloudy appearance) |
 |
PS – polystyrene |
Packaging, CD covers, Styrofoam, egg cartons, packing “peanuts,” plastic tableware, carryout containers |
 |
A combination of plastics, or none of the above |
Items already made from recycled goods, semi-rigid food storage, drinking cups |
