Recycling Symbols

GLASS LABEL

Glass Please put this in the bottle bank.

METAL LABELS

Aluminium Typically found on drinks/food cans, this symbol indicates that the packaging is made from recyclable aluminium.

Steel Also found on drinks/food cans to indicate they are made from recyclable steel.

PAPER LABEL

The NAPM approved recycled paper mark Products bearing this symbol must be manufactured from a minimum 75% paper and board waste, no part of which should contain mill produced waste.

WOOD LABEL

Wood The trademark of the Forest Stewardship Council indicates that the wood used in a product came from a forest managed according to strict environmental, social and economic standards.

PLASTIC LABELS

Polyethylene Terepthalate These Polymer Identification Codes help the consumer to differentiate between various types of plastic. PET is rigid, transparent, glossy and sinks in water. Used mostly for plastic drinks bottles.

High Density Polyethylene HDPE is semi-rigid and sinks in water. Commonly used for milk/water jugs and bleach bottles.

Polyvinyl chloride PVC is semi-rigid, glossy and sinks in water. Its uses include detergent/cleanser bottles and piping.

Low Density Polyethylene LDPE is flexible and not crinkly. Used for bread/sandwich bags, six-pack rings etc.

Polypropylene PP is semi-rigid with a low gloss finish. Commonly use for margarine/butter tubs, straws and screw tops.

Polystyrene Often brittle and glossy. Used for styrofoam, egg cartons and foam cups.

All other resins and multi-materials Multi-layer plastics are flexible and are used for ketchup and syrup bottles.

GENERAL RECYCLING

Tidyman Dispose of with care. Do not litter.

Green Dot In some countries (not the UK), the Green Dot symbol indicates that a contribution has been made to an authorised packaging recovery scheme. The UK operates on shared producer responsibility instead of a Green Dot system. Sometimes packaging is standardised for several markets with a green dot symbol included. If such packaging is distributed in the UK a trademark licence is requred. Wastepack can provide its compliance scheme Members with such a licence.

Mobius Loop Indicates that a product or part of a product can be recycled where facilities are available.

Mobius Loop with Percentage Denotes the percentage of recycled material used to manufacture a product.

European Ecolabel The official Europe-wide award given to non-food products which minimise impacts on the environment.