#4 – LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) LDPE is considered less toxic than other plastics, and relatively safe for use. It is not commonly recycled, however, although this is changing in many communities today as more plastic recycling programs gear up to handle this material.
4: LDPE (Low density polyethylene)
A lot of plastic wrappings are made of LDPE plastic. It's also used to make grocery bags and the bags that hold newspapers, sliced bread loaves and fresh produce, among other things. LDPE products CAN SOMETIMES be recycled.
These numbers are commonly referred to as the “resin identification code” or “recycling number”. They are located on the bottom or side of the container and are responsible for classifying the type of plastic resin used in the production of the container.
Plastic #4: LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) – Plastic #4 is used to make shopping bags, clothing, carpet, frozen food, bread bags and some food wraps. It is uncommon for this plastic to be collected in kerbside recycling programs. It is commonly recycled into compost bins, panelling, garbage bags and floor tiles.
To make a long story short: plastic recycling numbers 2, 4 and 5 are the safest. Whereas plastic numbers 1, 3, 6 and 7 must be avoided. But it does not indicate that you can fearlessly use safer plastic. All plastic products can leach toxic chemicals when heated or damaged.
Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are safer choices and do not contain BPA.
When you do use plastics, look for these resin codes which are considered safer: #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, and #5 PP. Examples of #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene) include: bottled milk, water and juice, yogurt cups, and some plastic bags.
♶ 4 – LDPE or Low-Density Polyethylene
Rigid or hard LDPE items with code 4 printed on them can be recycled through your recycling bin. LDPE in soft plastic forms cannot be recycled through your recycling bin but can be recycled through soft plastic bins at supermarkets.
Plastic recycling symbol #4: LDPE
LDPE (low-density polyethylene) is a flexible plastic with many applications.
Recycling #4: Low-Density Polyethylene Plastics (LDPE)
Recycled uses: #4 plastics are recycled into plastic lumber, commercial floor tiles, and trash can liners.
Safe plastic numbers include 2, 4, and 5. These containers can store food without any toxic chemicals infiltrating. These include the materials HDPE, LDPE, and PP. They are marked as green in the picture.
Items with the numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are considered the safest plastics for use with foods or around infants and children. It is best to avoid plastics with the recycling numbers 3, 6 or 7. These are also the plastics which are difficult to recycle.
Here's a little cheat sheet to help you determine what's recyclable and what's not. 1 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE) Common uses: Drink and water bottles, food jars. Widely recyclable. 2 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Plastic Number 4 – LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Low-density polyethylene is safe to be reused. It is very flexible, durable, and lightweight making it a common plastic to be used in food film and squeezable bottles.
Reused Plastic Bottles Can Leach Toxic Chemicals
Repeated re-use of plastic bottles—which get dinged up through normal wear and tear while being washed—increases the chance that chemicals will leak out of the tiny cracks and crevices that develop in the containers over time.
LDPE — Low density polyethylene plastics are listed as the number 4 on the triangle code. They are used for a wide range of items such as dry-cleaning bags, bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles for mustard and honey.
LDPE is a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene, the same as HDPE. The properties of plastic number 4 LDPE make it a useful material: It's both durable and flexible.
For example, soft plastics (number 4) need to go to a specialised recycler. To find out if something is recyclable at the kerbside, use our search tool or chat with Binny, the recycling app.
One example is REDcycle, where they accept different kinds of plastics – including LDPE 4 – they can recycle.
For example rigid type 4 (LDPE) can be easily collected, sorted and recycled from mixed kerbside collections however, films made from the same type of plastic are difficult to sort and recycle and are often contaminated by the item they are packaging.
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is widely known as the most toxic plastic for health and the environment. In its production, it releases dioxins, phthalates, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, lead, cadmium and other toxic chemicals.
Generally, most recyclers accept plastics #1 and #2. Plastics #3 to #6 are more difficult to recycle, and some recycling centers do not process them. Plastic #7 is even more difficult to recycle and is almost always excluded.
There are different types of plastic containers that are labeled with a 1, 2, or 5, these are considered BPA-Free. Plastic products stamped with a 7 indicate a possibility that BPA was used to make the product.