Plastic numbers 1–7: what the resin codes mean
The number in a triangle identifies the resin used to make a plastic item. It does not tell you, by itself, whether your council can collect that shape, colour or combination of materials.
1 — PET
Common in drinks bottles and some food packaging. Bottles are widely collected; trays and punnets depend on the local service and on-pack label.
2 — HDPE
Common in milk bottles, toiletry bottles and cleaning-product bottles. Empty bottles are widely collected.
3 — PVC
Used in some packaging and many construction products. It is not commonly accepted in household kerbside collections. Use the product label or a specialist route.
4 — LDPE
Common in bags, films and flexible wrapping. Many areas still require a supermarket or specialist collection, although some councils collect it at home.
5 — PP
Common in pots, tubs, trays and caps. Many councils collect rigid PP packaging, but acceptance still depends on the local service.
6 — PS
Includes rigid polystyrene and expanded foam. It is not easily recycled and is rarely collected at the kerbside. Some recycling centres or specialist schemes take particular forms.
7 — Other
A broad group covering several resins and mixed structures. Some items have specialist routes; others cannot currently be recycled through household services.
Use shape and instructions, not only the number
Ask: is it a bottle, pot, tub, tray, film or non-packaging product? Then follow the on-pack label and your council's list. The same resin can be accepted in one form and rejected in another.
Source: Recycle Now — plastic resin codes.
✓ Last checked: 17 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?