PET

Polyethylene Terephthalate

Clear, Tough, Solvent Resistant, Barrier to Gas and Moisture, Softens at 80°C

Soft Drink and Water Bottles, Salad Domes, Biscuit Trays, Salad Dressing and Butter Containers

Pillow and Sleeping, Bag Filling, Clothing, Soft Drink, Bottles, Carpet

PE-HD

High Density Polyethylene

Hard to Semi-flexible, Resistant to Chemicals and Moisture, Waxy Surface, Opaque, Softens at 75°C, Easily Coloured, Processed and Formed

Crinkly Shopping Bags, Freezer Bags, Milk Bottles, Ice Cream containers, Juice bottles, Shampoo, Chemical and Detergent Bottles, Buckets, Rigid Agricultural Pipe, Milk Crates

Recycling Bins, Compost Bins, Buckets, Detergent Containers, Posts, Fencing, Pipes

PVC

Unplasticised Polyvinyl

Chloride PVC-U

Plasticised Polyvinyl

Chloride PVC-P

Strong, tough, can be clear, can be solvent welded, softens at 80°C

Flexible, clear, elastic, can be

solvent welded

Cosmetic containers, electrical conduit, plumbing pipes and fittings, blister packs, wall cladding, roof sheeting, bottles

Garden hose, shoe soles, cable sheathing, blood bags and tubing, watch straps

Flooring, film and

sheets, cables, speed

bumps, packaging, binders, mud flaps

and mats

PE-LD

Low density Polyethylene

Soft, flexible, waxy surface, translucent, softens at 70°C, scratches easily

Glad wrap, garbage bags, squeeze bottles, black irrigation tube, black mulch film, garbage bins

Rubbish bin liners, pallet sheets

PP

Polypropylene

Hard but still flexible, waxy surface, softens at 140°C, translucent, withstands solvents, versatile

Dip pottles and ice cream tubs, potato chip bags, straws, microwave dishes, kettles, garden furniture, lunch boxes,

blue packing tape

Pegs, bins, pipes, pallet sheets, oil funnels, car battery cases, trays

PS

Polystyrene

PS-E

Expanded Polystyrene

Clear, glassy, rigid, brittle,opaque, semi-tough, softens at 95°C. Affected by fats and

solvents

Foamed, light weight, energy absorbing, heat insulating

CD cases, plastic cutlery, imitation 'crystal glassware',

low cost brittle toys, video cases

Foamed polystyrene hot drink cups, hamburger take-away

clamshells, foamed meat trays, protective packaging for fragile

items

Coat hangers,

coasters, white ware

components,

stationery trays and

accessories

OTHER

Letters below indicate ISO

code for plastic type

e.g. SAN, ABS, PC, Nylon

Includes all other resins and multi materials (e.g. laminates) Properties dependent on plastic or combination of plastics

Car parts, appliance parts, computers, electronics, water cooler bottles, packaging

Car parts, concrete aggregate, plastic timber