Plastic is a versatile material used in our packaging, clothing, toys, home goods, food utensils, medical devices and so much more, but it is also litters our streets, clogs our waterways and chokes marine life. Many plastics can be readily recycled, but councils ususally only collect those with the symbols 1,2,or 3 on their bottoms.

So What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean?

PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers
PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers.

The plastic symbols.