Non-Recyclable Plastic

If certain plastics aren’t recyclable, why do they have a triangle on the bottom with a number in it? A commonly asked question, for sure.

Let’s first start with the organization that brought us the solid triangle containing a number to begin with.

“ASTM International, founded as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is a nonprofit organization that develops and publishes approximately 12,000 technical standards, covering the procedures for testing and classification of materials of every sort.” This obviously includes plastics, or resin.

Where Did the Recycling Symbol Come From?

The recycling symbol is actually an internationally recognized symbol denoting that an item is

recyclable by conventional means. It is comprised of 3 chasing arrows in an unending single-sided looped surface, also called a Möbius strip, representing continuity.

Believe it or not, the recycling symbol is considered to be in the public domain and is not trademarked. It can be copied, transformed, or manipulated to fit any needs.  It can also be printed or portrayed in any color.

A contest for high school and college students, sponsored by the Container Corporation of America, was held to find a universally accepted symbol for recyclable items. This came as a result of worldwide attention to environmental issues which ultimately brought about the first Earth Day.