What do the numbers near the recycling logo on a plastic container mean?

What do the numbers near the recycling logo on a plastic container mean?

Dan Sharp (Green Family Expert) gives expert video advice on: 'Paper' or 'plastic'- which is better for the environment?; What do the numbers near the recycling logo on a plastic container mean?; What does biodegradable mean? and more...

The numbers on plastic containers are designated by the Society of Plastic Industries and those are called resin identification codes. They basically tell the recycling centers what kind of resin are in that plastic and that helps them to be able to separate the plastic out because some plastic can only be recycled with other plastic.