07-01-2012, 04:31 PM
Plastics recycling information sheet
types of plastic what does the law say?
why bother? what you can do
hows, whats and wheres of recycling plastic useful publications and contacts
The world's annual consumption of plastic materials has increased from around 5 million tonnes in the 1950s to nearly 100 million tonnes today.
We produce and use 20 times more plastic today than we did 50 years ago!
In the UK, a total of approximately 4.7 million tonnes of plastic products were used in various economic sectors in 2001.
Uses of plastic
Packaging represents the largest single sector of plastics use in the UK. The sector accounts for 35% of UK plastics consumption and plastic is the material of choice in nearly half of all packaged goods. (see packaging information sheet for further information).
Plastics consumption is growing about 4% every year in western Europe.
Types of plastic top of page
There are about 50 different groups of plastics, with hundreds of different varieties. All types of plastic are recyclable. To make sorting and thus recycling easier, the American Society of Plastics Industry developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic. These types and their most common uses are:
PET
Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.
HDPE
High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.
LDPE
Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.
PP
Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.
PS
Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.
OTHER
Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.
Benefits of plastics
The considerable growth in plastic use is due to the beneficial properties of plastics. These include:
Extreme versatility and ability to be tailored to meet very specific technical needs.
Lighter weight than competing materials, reducing fuel consumption during transportation.
Extreme durability.
Resistance to chemicals, water and impact.
Good safety and hygiene properties for food packaging.
Excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties.
Relatively inexpensive to produce.
One tonne of plastics is equivalent to 20,000 two litre drinks bottles or 120,000 carrier bags.
LINPAC(2001)
Why bother? top of page
Plastics makes up around 7% of the average household dustbin.
types of plastic what does the law say?
why bother? what you can do
hows, whats and wheres of recycling plastic useful publications and contacts
The world's annual consumption of plastic materials has increased from around 5 million tonnes in the 1950s to nearly 100 million tonnes today.
We produce and use 20 times more plastic today than we did 50 years ago!
In the UK, a total of approximately 4.7 million tonnes of plastic products were used in various economic sectors in 2001.
Uses of plastic
Packaging represents the largest single sector of plastics use in the UK. The sector accounts for 35% of UK plastics consumption and plastic is the material of choice in nearly half of all packaged goods. (see packaging information sheet for further information).
Plastics consumption is growing about 4% every year in western Europe.
Types of plastic top of page
There are about 50 different groups of plastics, with hundreds of different varieties. All types of plastic are recyclable. To make sorting and thus recycling easier, the American Society of Plastics Industry developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic. These types and their most common uses are:
PET
Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.
HDPE
High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.
LDPE
Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.
PP
Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.
PS
Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.
OTHER
Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.
Benefits of plastics
The considerable growth in plastic use is due to the beneficial properties of plastics. These include:
Extreme versatility and ability to be tailored to meet very specific technical needs.
Lighter weight than competing materials, reducing fuel consumption during transportation.
Extreme durability.
Resistance to chemicals, water and impact.
Good safety and hygiene properties for food packaging.
Excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties.
Relatively inexpensive to produce.
One tonne of plastics is equivalent to 20,000 two litre drinks bottles or 120,000 carrier bags.
LINPAC(2001)
Why bother? top of page
Plastics makes up around 7% of the average household dustbin.