So I always see these signs and numbers on plastic containers, what do they mean?
[Here’s a photo of those numbers/signs from something I just threw away.](https://imgur.com/K1krehk)
In: Chemistry
The triangle with a number inside is **not** a recycling symbol, it’s a [resin identification code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code) (RIC). In particular, the code 5 shown in your picture “signifies polypropylene (PP) (auto parts, industrial fibres, food containers, etc.)” and these can’t usually be recycled.
The two circles with the numbers around the outside and the arrows indicate the year and month the part was produced.
The triangle tells what sort of recyclable plastic it is.
The 13 is most likely a part number that is really only relevant to the factory producing it for organizational/inventory purposes.
I have no idea what that square is.
Mold cavity number, plastic material marking in Japanese, another in the western style (in this case Polypropylene “PP”, plus two date stamps.
The date stamps can be adjusted to reflect the day/month/year the item was manufactured in. If there is a problem it’s easier to track it back to a specific time the item was manufactured at.
The mold number shows what cavity the piece came out of. Let’s say every time your mold machine opens 10 of these items fall out. If each is marked with a number it’s easy to trace problems back to a specific mold cavity.
Someone else can tell you more… But I know that one is the type of plastic… “PP” = Polypropylene”. There are quite a few types of plastic and I think its printed on there for recycling purposes
https://www.compliancesigns.com/NHE-14285.shtml?gs=8.00&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9ZzzBRCKARIsANwXaeK_4MXxwsw5XD5zIN3s1_tV89VpEsEXptjQ0EcA19lvJxLS9zSWr5oaAlITEALw_wcB
I’m assuming another symbol could be batch numbers from the manufacturer.
I dont know the rest though
Edit: here is more
https://www.curver.com/cur/about-plastic/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-symbols-on-our-plastic-containers/
all i know is the numbers inside the triangle symbol represent the hardness/type of plastic so the higher the # the harder the plastic usually and the more difficult to recycle? my old roommate worked at a literal recycling factory one time as a consultant and explained this much better.
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