The truth about plastic recycling numbers 1 to 7

You've seen it a thousand times: a small triangle of arrows with a number inside, stamped on the bottom of a plastic container. Many people assume it means "this is recyclable." The truth is more nuanced. Here's what each plastic code actually means — and which ones are worth recycling in South Africa.

What the number really is

The triangle and number form the resin identification code. It was created to identify the type of plastic, mainly to help recyclers sort material. It is not a guarantee that an item is collected or recyclable in your area. Recyclability depends on the plastic type, how clean it is, and whether there's a local market for it.

Code 1 — PET

Found in: clear cold-drink and water bottles, some food punnets. Recyclable? Yes — highly. PET is one of the most valuable and widely recycled plastics, made into new bottles and polyester fibre. Bring it to buyback: absolutely, clean and clear.

Code 2 — HDPE

Found in: milk bottles, shampoo, detergent and cleaning bottles. Recyclable? Yes — reliably. HDPE becomes pipes, crates, buckets and bottles. Bring it to buyback: yes, rinsed.

Code 3 — PVC

Found in: some pipes, blister packs, cling films, certain bottles. Recyclable? Rarely through household streams. PVC is problematic and usually not accepted at buyback. Bring it to buyback: no — keep it out.

Code 4 — LDPE

Found in: shopping bags, bread bags, packaging film, squeezable bottles. Recyclable? Film is recoverable if clean and dry, and there's growing demand for it. Bring it to buyback: clean, dry film — yes, kept separate.

Code 5 — PP

Found in: ice-cream tubs, margarine containers, bottle caps, straws, some food containers. Recyclable? Increasingly, yes — PP recycling has grown. Acceptance varies locally. Bring it to buyback: check first; clean tubs are increasingly welcome.

Code 6 — PS (Polystyrene)

Found in: yoghurt cups, meat trays, takeaway containers, and expanded polystyrene (foam). Recyclable? Difficult, especially foam. Generally not accepted through buyback. Bring it to buyback: no — keep it out.

Code 7 — Other / multi-layer

Found in: multi-layer pouches, chip packets, some "bioplastics", mixed-resin items. Recyclable? Mostly no. Multi-layer packaging is one of the hardest waste streams. Bring it to buyback: no.

The simple rule

For households in Cape Town, the easy version is:

• Always recycle: 1 (PET) and 2 (HDPE)
• Recycle if clean and accepted: 4 (film) and increasingly 5 (PP)
• Leave out: 3 (PVC), 6 (PS/foam) and 7 (multi-layer)

Why some plastics aren't recycled

A plastic only gets recycled if three things line up: it can be technically reprocessed, it can be collected and sorted economically, and there's a buyer for the recycled material. Plastics like PVC and multi-layer pouches fail on one or more of these, which is why they're not accepted even though they carry a code.

What to do with the tricky ones

• Reduce them where you can — choose products in PET, HDPE or glass.
• Reuse containers before discarding.
• Bin what genuinely can't be recycled rather than contaminating good streams with it.

The bottom line

The recycling triangle is a sorting label, not a promise. Focus your effort on the plastics that genuinely have a home — especially PET and HDPE — keep them clean and dry, and leave the problem plastics out of your recycling bag. You'll earn more, contaminate less, and help the whole system work better.

Unsure about a specific item? Ask WasteGo Green which plastics we currently accept.