PLASTIC AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR RESPECTIVE NUMBER CLASSIFICATION (SPI CODES)

Types of Plastics and their Number Classification:

We are not just living in high tech world, but according to me in a PLASTIC WORLD. We are surrounded allover by plastic. Almost the daily things we used are made up of plastic. Sometime it makes me wonder that is it possible for us to live without plastic? I was not aware of fact of the number classification for different types of plastics until one of my professor pointed it in our class. Most of people don’t recycle there plastic water and softdrink bottles. Which directly decreases the recycling of plastic. In this blog I am just going to write about different types of plastics and about theri respective number classification. The numbers are printed in recycle symbol at bottom of product (see fig 1). The American Chemical Council has resign classification/ identification number (SPI CODES) to respective type of plastic. This numbers are used to determine how to use and recycle that particular type of plastic.

Fig 1.

Number Classification OR SPI codes:

No 1: Plastics marked with code 1 are made up of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE). Commonly used in softdrink and water bottles. It is advisable that plastic product under this classification should be used one time and not to store food, drinks in it again and again. Reusing bottles made of PET can in fact be dangerous. PET was found to break down over time and leach into the beverage when the bottles were reused. May cause liver problems, other possible reproductive difficulties, and is suspected to cause cancer in humans. Therefore, it's best to recycle these bottles without reusing them.

No. 2: Plastics marked with code 2 are made up of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Commonly used in milk containers,Food storage containers, sampoo/ soap bottles, buckets, recycling bins. This plastic is suitable for packing products. If you carry you water bottle with you, make sure you carry in those made of HDPE ie marked with code 2. It is safe to reuse this plastic but within certain range.

No. 3: Plastics marked with code 3 are made up of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, vinyl). Commonly used in PVC pipes, windows frames, fencing. It can be toxic if ingested.

No. 4: Plastics marked with code 4 are made up of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). It is a very healthy plastic that tends to be both durable and flexible. Plastic cling wrap, sandwich bags, squeezable bottles, toys and plastic grocery bags are all made from LDPE. Recycled LDPE is used to make garbage cans, lumber, furniture, and more.

No. 5: Plastics marked with code 5 are made up of Polypropylene (PP). This type of plastic is strong and can usually withstand higher temperatures. Among many other products, it is used to make plastic diapers, Tupperware, margarine containers, yogurt boxes, syrup bottles, prescription bottles, and some stadium cups. Recycled PP is used to make ice scrapers, rakes, battery cables, and more.

No. 6: : Plastics marked with code 6 are made up of Polystyrene (PS). It is very complicated to recycle this plastic but still often recycled. It is most commonly used for protective packaging (for example, foam packaging for furniture, electronics, and other delicate items), food serving packaging (for example, cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, meat and poultry trays, and rigid food containers), bottles, and food containers. As you can see from the examples in which it commonly used and difficult to recycle this type of plastic, we should try to avoid any of products made of this plastic.

No. 7: Other: is used to designate miscellaneous types of plastic that are not defined by the other six codes. These types of plastics are difficult to recycle. Commonly used in Compact Disc, cell phones, computers, automobile parts, and so on.

Consumers can make better plastic-purchasing decisions if they understand SPI codes and potential health hazards of each plastic, and recyclers can more effectively separate plastics into categories. Always check a product’s classification code prior to recycling it or re-using it. It’s important to stay educated about plastic classification numbers and plastic types; remember, informed consumers can demand that plastics manufacturers provide better products.

JUST REMEBER: RECYCLE, DO NOT REUSE PLASTIC.

It is stringly advsed to readers that please recycle the plastic and use only for purpose that product intended to.

I STRONGLY SUGGESTS TO STOP REUSEING WATER BOTTLE AND SOFTDRINK BOTTLE. AS WE ALL REUSE THEM. AND NOW YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT ITS NOT SAFE TO DO REUSE THEM.

CARRY YOUR DRINKING WATER IN PLASTIC BOTTLES MARKED WITH SPI CODE 2.