Standard Codes and Symbols for Handling and Recycling ...

In the decades since this time, the Universal Recycling Symbol has vastly grown in use, being internationally recognized and actually ... SkiptocontentRecyclingisthesimplestwaywecanfulfillourobligationasenvironmentalstewards.Theactofputtingrefuseinthecorrectcontainer,whileincrediblybasic,doesmakeanimpact,sinceitallowsforthereuseofmaterialsthatwouldotherwisebreakdownsoslowlythattheywouldseeminglylastforever.Infact,plasticbottles,whicharealmostalwaysrecyclable,ifsenttoalandfill,wouldtakealmost500yearstodecompose.However,therearecertainvariablesthatcomplicaterecycling,sincenotallplasticsareuniversallyrecyclable.Comparepolyethyleneterephthalate(PET)andpolyvinylchloride(PVC):theformerisoneofthemostcommonlyusedplasticsinconsumerbottles,whilethelatterisfoundinthesheathingmaterialforcomputercables,plasticpipes,andsomeconsumerproducts.Bothofthesematerialsarevisiblyplastic,butPETisalwaysrecyclableandPVCcanalmostneverberecycled.Becauseofthisdistinction,therehaslongbeenaneedformanufacturersofplasticproductstoconveytheirproducts’recyclabilityandmaterialcomponentstoconsumersandrecyclers,sothattheplasticscanbedisposedofproperly.Assuringresponsibleenduseoffabricatedproductsisanimportantmanufacturerresponsibility,andastandardsystemofidentifiablemarkingshelpstofulfillthisduty.ThestandardsystemofsymbolsthatappearsonplasticproductstomarkthepredominantplasticmaterialpresentisthatoftheResinIdentificationCode(RICCode).ThiscodingsystemwasfirstdevelopedbytheSocietyofthePlasticsIndustry,Inc.(SPI)backin1988,butithassincebeenadministeredbyASTMInternational.ThecurrentstandardforRICCodeisspecifiedinASTMD7611/D7611M-20–StandardPracticeforCodingPlasticManufacturedArticlesforResinIdentification,whichdefinesitas“amolded,imprintedorraisedsymbolorwordingthatconsistsofanequilateraltriangle,aResinIdentificationNumber,andanAbbreviatedTermforpolymericmaterial.”SinceaResinIdentificationCodeexistsfortheownerofaplasticproducttobeabletounderstanditsmainplasticmaterial,themostimportantpartoftheCodeistheresin.RICCodesareusedtoidentifysevendifferenttypesofplasticresins,whicharenumbered1-7.Theseare(1)polyethyleneterephthalate,(2)high-densitypolyethylene,(3)polyvinylchloride,(4)low-densitypolyethylene,(5)polypropylene,(6)polystyrene,and(7)otherplastics.Thesenumbersareplacedinsidetheequilateraltriangle,withtheabbreviatedtermforthematerialjustunderit.Forexample,thecodeforhigh-densitypolyethyleneis:1WhilemanyhavebelievedaResinIdentificationNumbertobethecodeindicatingplasticrecyclability,itactuallyismeanttoassistrecyclersinsortingthecollectedmaterials,anditcanevenbetterinformconsumers.ThisisnotedintheASTMD7611/D7611Mstandard:“ResinIdentificationCodesarenot‘recyclecodes.’TheuseofaResinIdentificationCodeonamanufacturedplasticarticledoesnotimplythatthearticleisrecycledorthattherearesystemsinplacetoeffectivelyprocessthearticleforreclamationorre-use.Theterm“recyclable”orotherenvironmentalclaimsshallnotbeplacedinproximitytotheCode.”Thismisunderstandingcanexplainoneoftheprimarychangesto ASTMD7611/D7611M-13E1:thechangefromatrianglecloselyresemblingtheUniversalRecyclingSymboltoonewithaboldoutline.And,whileResinIdentificationCodesarenotrecyclecodes,theycanhelpconsumersidentifytheplasticpresentsothattheycandisposeofitaccordingtolocalrecyclinglaws,whichvaryfromplacetoplace.Forexample,intheUnitedStates,therearenofederalregulationsforrecycling,solawspertainingtorecyclingaredeterminedbystateandlocalgovernment.Throughthis,thereisalotofvariationinrecyclingguidelines.Infact,theonlytruerecyclingstandardistheUniversalRecyclingSymbolitself,theeasilyidentifiableimagecontainingthreeidenticalchasingarrows.TheUniversalRecyclingSymboltracesitsoriginsbacktothefirstEarthDay,whenenvironmentalconsciousnesswasinearlyemergence.AroundthefirstEarthDayin1970,theContainerCorporationofAmerica(CCA)heldacompetitiontocreateadesignrepresentativeofrecycling.ThewinnerofthiscontestwasGaryDeanAnderson,athen-23yearoldcollegestudentwhodrewinspirationfromtheMobiusStriptocreatetheUniversalRecyclingSymbol.Inthedecadessincethistime,theUniversalRecyclingSymbolhasvastlygrowninuse,beinginternationallyrecognizedandactuallybecomingtheuniversalsymbolforrecycling.Ultimately,itisimportantremainawareoflocallawsonrecyclingandbeabletoidentifyplasticcomponentsusedinproducts.Ifaplasticmaterialcanberecycledaccordingtolocallaws,thenitabsolutelyshouldbe,asitcanthenbereusedforanotherproductinsteadofrestinginalandfillforthenexthalfmillennium.1.ASTMInternational, ASTMD7611/D7611M-13E1–StandardPracticeforCodingPlasticManufacturedArticlesforResinIdentification(WestConshohocken:ASTM,2014),3.Youmayalsoliketheseposts:ANSIZ97.1&SafetyGlazingMaterialMarkingsANSI/PLASTICSB151.27-2021:Robot/InjectionMoldingMachineSafetyRequirementsBatteriesandSustainabilityWhyTheCircularEconomyIsImportantToDevelopSustainableSolutionsASTMD7611-20:ChangetoResinIdentificationCodeStandardLeaveaReplyCancelreplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*Comment*Name*Email*ΔThissiteusesAkismettoreducespam.Learnhowyourcommentdataisprocessed.SubscribetonewpostsbyemailLeavethisfieldemptyifyou'rehuman:[email protected]