Recycling symbols and their meaning

It is in 1970 when the first recycling symbol is created and arises as a result of a design contest. The design that so far is used to indicate recycling shows three arrows , each of which refers to an activity in the recycling process:

1. The materials used are collected.
2. The recycling activity is carried out in recycling plants.
3. The recycled product returns to the market.

Perhaps this is the recycling symbol we see most often on packaging. These are two rounded arrows that come together to form a circle. This symbol is marked by the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, which makes companies responsible for recycling their products. In Spain Ecoembes and Ecovidrio help production companies to manage paper, plastic and glass waste.

Waste should not only be managed by companies or management companies, it is also the responsibility of citizens. There is waste that we generate when we are away from home and throwing it on the ground, in rivers, lakes, etc., is a lack of civility and a great irresponsibility with the environment and, in the end, with ourselves. With the symbol of the Tidyman, a person throwing garbage in a bin or container , it is intended that people are also responsible and deposit their waste in the corresponding places, whether they are bins or special containers.

There are different plastic containers depending on their composition, each of them is used to package different products. There are 7 types of plastics that can be differentiated by the plastic recycling symbol , three arrows in a triangle with a number in the center.

1. Pet or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate): This symbol is used for both beverages and food containers.
2. HDPE (High Density Polyethylene): if you take a look at the cleaning products in your home, you will find this symbol on their packaging.
3. V or PVC (Vinyl or Polyvinyl Chloride): they are highly resistant plastics, used for hygiene products, construction materials, pipes, etc …
4. LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene): is a type of plastic used for furniture, freezer bags … They are characterized by being transparent and resistant.
5. PP (Polypropylene): heat-resistant plastics, mainly used for medical or laboratory packaging.
6. PS (Polystyrene): perhaps the most damaging of all since it is used in single-use utensils.
7. OTHER in this category include those that are difficult or practically impossible to recycle such as DVD or MP3.

We recommend you learn more about it in this other article on Which plastics are recycled and which are not .

Glass bottles also have their corresponding symbol, with respect to the containers to be thrown in the glass container we must be especially careful, since sometimes glass containers are deposited. Glass and glass are not the same: if we throw the glass into the glass container, in the recycling process the composition of the new containers that are generated can be altered. If you did not know, the glass that is collected from the green containers is crushed to obtain its mineral of origin, silica, and from this the new containers are made. Here you can see some of the glass recycling symbols , although sometimes the recycling symbol with two or three arrows may simply appear.

In this other post we talk more about How to recycle glass .

Like plastic, metals also have their own recycling symbols. Aluminum and steel are examples of recyclable metals where you can see the symbols for recycling metals , like the ones in the image below.

To learn more about recyclable metals, we explain everything about the Importance of metal recycling here.

This type of waste cannot be deposited in any container. They must be taken to clean points so that they can carry out a correct management. The problem with these residues is that if they are not taken to the clean points they generate a strong impact on the environment. If you think a bit, you might get an image of how they take electronic devices out of rivers, or of going for a walk in the countryside and finding them lying around.

In the case of electronic or technological waste , you will see that in some of the pieces there is the corresponding plastic recycling symbol , in other parts there may be the metal recycling symbol , etc., since it goes by pieces and for to throw it away you would have to disassemble it and recycle these parts separately. On the other hand, there are pieces of electronic products, or whole products, that cannot be recycled in the containers as we indicated and must go to the clean point.

We explain more about what to do with technological or electronic waste in this other Green Ecology post and here we talk about what a clean or green point is and what it is for .

Once expired drugs are dangerous to health, when they expire they must receive their corresponding treatment. In addition to being dangerous for humans, if we dispose of them down the drain, they will end up contaminating the waters since they are not detected in the water treatment plant. In the case of Spain, to recycle medicines you have to take them to the SIGRE point of medicines that, normally, is in pharmacies or medical centers. In these places you will find containers with the symbol of a cross and a round green arrow.

To further expand your knowledge about recycling, we recommend this AgroCorrn recycling guide in which you will find many tips on How to recycle garbage at home .

If you want to read more articles similar to Recycling symbols and their meaning , we recommend that you enter our Recycling and waste management category .