What Type of Plastics Are Recyclable?

Customers, regulators, and industry peers are all pushing for greater use of recyclable materials. But not all plastics are created equal. In order to understand what types of plastics are recyclable, it helps to look at how plastics are classified and why some are much easier to recycle than others. The chemistry behind each plastic makes a big difference in whether it gets reused or ends up in the landfill.

What Do the Numbers in the Recycling Symbol Mean?

When you pick up a plastic bottle or container, you’ll often see a triangular recycling symbol stamped on the bottom. Inside that symbol is a number ranging from 1 to 7. This number is called the Resin Identification Code (RIC). The RIC tells you what kind of plastic the item is made of. Each number corresponds to a different resin type with distinct physical and chemical properties.
Knowing the RIC makes it easier to determine whether a product can be recycled, and how. Some plastics, like PET and HDPE, are widely collected, sorted, and reprocessed. Others, such as PVC or polystyrene, may technically be recyclable but are rarely accepted because the process is complex and expensive.

What Number Plastics Are Recyclable?

While almost all plastics can technically be recycled, in practice, only a handful are widely recycled today. Let’s break down each resin type and look at what sets it apart.

#1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

PET is one of the most common plastics in circulation. It’s best known for plastic bottles and many food packaging containers. PET is lightweight, durable, and forms a good barrier against moisture. These qualities make it ideal for packaging. Unlike many plastics, PET has a high clarity that gives it a glass-like appearance, which is one reason it’s so widely chosen for consumer products.
PET plastic is widely recyclable. Most curbside programs accept it, and it can be recycled into fibers for textiles, new containers, or things like industrial strapping. The material’s consistency, combined with its relatively pure polymer structure, makes it easy to process.

#2 HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

HDPE is found in milk jugs, detergent bottles, and piping. It’s tougher than PET, with excellent resistance to chemicals and moisture. HDPE has a more opaque appearance and a denser molecular arrangement, giving it a higher strength-to-density ratio. This structure makes it less brittle and more resistant to impact.
Like PET, HDPE is widely recyclable. It can be processed into items such as plastic lumber, recycling bins, and new bottles. Its durability and versatility make it highly desirable in recycling markets, and many communities accept it in curbside bins. 

#3 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

PVC is commonly used in plumbing pipes, shrink wrap, and vinyl siding. It’s valued for its strength and ability to withstand harsh conditions. What sets PVC apart is the use of chlorine in its makeup, which makes it highly durable but also more complex chemically. Additives such as stabilizers and plasticizers are often introduced to modify PVC’s rigidity or flexibility.
Unfortunately, PVC is rarely recycled. It contains additives that make processing complicated and separation from other plastics difficult. When burned, it can release hazardous chemicals, which further limits its recycling potential. Its chemical complexity and environmental risks mean most PVC ends up in landfills.

#4 LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)

LDPE shows up in grocery bags, shrink wraps, and other various film plastics. It’s flexible and lightweight, with a waxy texture. Compared to HDPE, LDPE has a less dense molecular structure, which makes it softer and more pliable. This flexibility is its greatest advantage in packaging applications, but also one of its recycling challenges.
LDPE plastic is sometimes recyclable, but often not through curbside programs. Specialized drop-off programs for plastic bags and films exist, but recycling facilities struggle with these thin plastics because they can clog sorting machines. Where accepted, LDPE can be turned into products like trash can liners and composite lumber.

#5 PP (Polypropylene)

Polypropylene is used in straws, food containers, and medical packaging. It’s heat-resistant, lightweight, and versatile, which makes it popular across industries. Structurally, PP has a higher melting point than many other plastics, allowing it to withstand hot-fill packaging and repeated exposure to heat. It also resists stress cracking better than HDPE, giving it a unique performance advantage.
PP plastic is increasingly recyclable. More facilities now accept it, although availability varies by region. Its growing acceptance reflects its balance of strength, flexibility, and heat resistance, which make it more useful than many comparable resins.

#6 PS (Polystyrene / Styrofoam)

Polystyrene comes in two main forms: rigid plastics (like CD cases and disposable cutlery) and foam (such as takeout containers, packing peanuts, and insulation). It’s lightweight and inexpensive but fragile. Chemically, PS is a hard plastic that becomes brittle in its solid form, while its foamed version traps air, making it extremely light but structurally weak.

Technically, PS plastic is recyclable, but it is rarely accepted. Its low density makes collection and transport costly, and contamination from food residue adds another barrier. Some specialized programs do exist, but widespread recycling of PS remains impractical.

#7 Other / Mixed Plastics

The #7 category is a catch-all for plastics that don’t fit into the other six categories. This includes multilayer packaging, bio-based plastics, and custom blends. Because this group is so varied, the physical and chemical properties differ widely.
Plastics labeled as #7 are very difficult to recycle. Their mixed or unknown composition makes them costly to process, and recycling facilities often lack the technology to separate the layers. In most cases, these plastics are either downcycled into lower-value products or disposed of. 

Are Thermoformed Plastics Recyclable?

Thermoforming is a common process used to make trays, clamshells, and other shaped packaging. Many thermoformed plastics are recyclable, especially if they’re made from commonly accepted plastics like PET or HDPE. However, not all RIC plastics have the physical properties needed for thermoforming, and the heating process itself can affect recyclability. 
For companies using thermoformed trays and other types of plastic products, choosing materials with strong recycling markets is key.

How Ready-Made Creates Sustainable Plastic Trays

At Ready-Made Plastic Trays, we focus on producing trays that not only perform well but also align with current sustainability goals. Because many of our products are designed through thermoforming, we place a strong emphasis on recycling thermoformed plastic. We have worked to ensure that all of our products are recyclable. We carefully vet our suppliers to ensure that every tray we manufacture can re-enter the recycling stream wherever possible. 
Reach out today to learn more about our sustainable plastic trays and what plastics are recyclable. We’ll help you find the right solution that balances performance, cost, and recyclability.