When you commit to collecting for a PlastX job, it's important that you ONLY collect the kind of plastic that has been requested.
But there are many different kinds of plastic in the environment.
This guide will help you understand the difference, so you'll ALWAYS be able to collect the RIGHT stuff!
Polyethylene Terephthalate
PET (or PETE)
PET is
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Semi-rigid
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Lightweight
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Tough
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Clear or Coloured
it's often used for
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Soft drink bottles
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Water bottles
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Food containers
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Salad domes
if you're collecting PET, look for...
These drink bottles
These clear salad domes
But not these household cleaning bottles
But not these burger boxes
PET is easily identified by the internationally recognised code (1)
If you're not sure, look for this symbol:
to learn more about PET, click here
High-Density Polyethylene
HDPE
HDPE is
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Strong and dense
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Semi-flexible to hard
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White or coloured
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Translucent - not transparent
it's often used for
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Milk or juice bottles
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Bottles for cleaning products
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Shampoo bottles
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Ice cream containers
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Crates
if you're collecting HDPE, look for...
These milk cartons
These crates
But NOT these drink bottles
But NOT these drinking straws
HDPE is easily identified by the internationally recognised code (2)
If you're not sure, look for this symbol:
to learn more about HDPE, click here
Polypropylene
PP
PP is
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Hard
-
Flexible
-
Translucent
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Waxy Surface
it's often used for
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Bottle screw caps
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Straws
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Food containers
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Flower pots
if you're collecting PP, look for...
These bottle CAPS
But NOT the bottles
These drinking STRAWS
But NOT the cups
PP is easily identified by the internationally recognised code (5)
If you're not sure, look for this symbol:
