When designing a plastic component it is always good practice to include an internationally recognised recycling code. In many countries this is now a legal requirement.
Most unmarked plastics still end up in landfill and as the worlds resources become depleted recycling is a “must do”.
The image below shows how the codes should appear on your parts.
Where possible polymer sub assemblies should be in like materials as unlike materials will make recycling virtually impossible.
If it is impractical to use the arrow system below we often use the following where space is limited.
>PETE< >HDPE< >PVC< >LDPE< >PP< >PS< >OTHER<
1 PET or PETE – Polyethylene Terephthalate
2 HDPE – High Density Polyethylene
3 PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride
4 LDPE – Low Density Polyethylene
5 PP – Polypropylene
6 PS – Polystyrene
7 OTHER – Polyamides, Acrylic & Polycarbonate
Recycling Image FREE TO DOWNLOAD