The triangle recycling symbol you usually see in most paper and plastic packaging suggests that a product is either recyclable or made from recycled materials.
The universal recycling symbol (U+2672 ♲ UNIVERSAL RECYCLING SYMBOL or U+267B ♻ BLACK UNIVERSAL RECYCLING SYMBOL in Unicode) is internationally recognized for symbol for recycling activity. The symbol's creation originates on the first Earth Day in 1970, where the logo depicted is a Möbius strip.
Recyclable: The coloured/opaque recycling symbol means that this piece of packaging can be placed in the recycling bin as it is. Each piece of packaging with this label must be placed separately in the recycling bin.
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled though some curbside programs. Recycled Into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays, and more.
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.
Most hard plastics coded 1 to 7 can be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin, however expanded polystyrene foam, number 6, and plastic bags, which are usually number 2 or 4, cannot be recycled through kerbside recycling bins.
It is safe to say recycling codes number 1, 2 and 5, are usually accepted by most local councils across Australia but always check the packaging.
2 -- HDPE (High-density polyethylene)
HDPE is found in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles. HDPE can be recycled into non food bottles and recycling bins.
The Green Dot recycling packaging symbol
The Green Dot symbol signifies that the packaging producer has made a financial contribution towards the recycling of packaging. It's important to note that this symbol does not necessarily mean that the packaging is recyclable.
The "5" inside a triangle on a plastic container means PP or Polypropylene, which is one of the safer kinds of plastics! It is very much recyclable! Polypropylene medicine bottles, caps, straws, ketchup bottles and yogurt containers can be recycled into trays, pallets, bins, bicycle racks and even brooms!
lime green for FOGO. yellow for mixed recyclables. red for household rubbish.
2 – HDPE – High Density Polyethylene This type of material is usually found in packaging for things like detergents, bleach, shampoo, conditioner and milk containers. These materials can be placed into your recycling bin for pick up by your local council and are recycled into more bottles and bags for future use.
Yellow Bin
Your yellow-lidded bin is collected fortnightly and is for recyclable items, which are taken to a facility to be sorted into their different material types (e.g. glass, paper, steel and plastic).
Coffee cups — Remove the lids, wash and recycle. The cup cannot be recycled due to its waterproof plastic lining so throw this part away in the red bin.
An essential item to have and one that is cause for concern when you run out. For something that is used so frequently, you have to ask - are toilet paper rolls recyclable? Now when it comes to the paper - if it is unused, yes, it is recyclable.
On most plastic bottles, containers and other packaging products you will find the universal recycling symbol of the chasing arrows triangle. Within the symbol, there is a number ranging from 1-7. Although manufacturers use the recycle symbol on their products, not all plastics are recyclable.
When kept dry and separate from other waste, clear plastic wrap from retail businesses makes for a higher grade of recyclable. Clear plastic wrap such as shrink wrap and pallet wrap can be separated and placed in a dedicated bin for easy recycling.
Paper towels, napkins, paper plates, and tissues are all paper products but unlike most paper items, they cannot be recycled. Just like pizza boxes, these items come in contact with food wastes, greases, and possibly bodily fluids, and are hard to "clean" during the recycling process.
It looks like a recycling symbol (three bent arrows forming a triangle) with a number inside. This symbol does not depict the number of times that the plastic has been recycled, as is commonly believed. Instead, the symbol is used to tell recyclers and waste management handlers what the plastic is made from.