💡 Resin Identification Code
The 1–7 number inside the chasing-arrows triangle on plastics, identifying polymer type — not recyclability.
| Aliases | RIC, recycling number |
|---|---|
| Alternate names | Plastic identification code |
| Entity type | 💡 Concept |
| Permanent ID | E074 |
| Parent topic | Recycling |
| Wikidata | Q7314544 |
| Wikipedia | Resin_identification_code |
About Resin Identification Code
The resin identification code is the number 1–7 molded inside the chasing-arrows triangle on plastic products, introduced by the industry in 1988 to identify polymer families for sorting.
It is the source of recycling's biggest myth: the arrows look like a recyclability promise, but only #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) are widely accepted curbside. Knowing that distinction is the core of every recycling quiz.
Timeline
| 1988 | Codes introduced by the plastics industry. |
| 2008 | ASTM takes over administration. |
| 2018 | National Sword exposes the myth's cost. |
| Today | Label reform underway in several countries. |
Famous Examples & Highlights
- #1 PET, #2 HDPE = yes
- 1988 introduction
- Arrows ≠ recyclable
- Bottle-shape heuristic
Relationships
| Parent concept | Recycling |
|---|---|
| Child concepts | Wish-Cycling |
| Related concepts | Wish-Cycling |
Parent & Child Topics
Parent: Recycling · Children: Wish-Cycling
Opposite & Comparison Entities
No natural opposite recorded for this entity in the graph.
See Also & Related
Related Quizzes
Covered In These Guides
Full guides and practice quizzes: Bing Recycling Quiz.