Just because it's plastic, doesn't mean it's recyclable. Most plastic containers will feature a recycling logo with a number ranging from 1-7 printed or stamped in the middle. The number in the triangle indicates the grade of plastic in the packaging, known as the resin ID code. The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) implemented the numeric resin ID code system in 1988 to make plastic sorting easier.

Recycling vs. Reusing vs. Biodegrading

The resin code on the bottle tells you if plastic used in the packaging can be recycled, with codes 1, 2 and 4 being the most commonly recycled items. And while polystyrene (6) is difficult to recycle, it can be reused, while bioplastics (7) can't be recycled, but can instead biodegrade.
What makes an item biodegradable? Click here to learn more.

Proprietary Simple Green bottles are made from PETE and HDPE plastic (1 & 2,) with no added BPA or phthalates. They are readily recyclable and don't leach harmful chemicals over time.

Recycling in your town

Curbside recycling programs vary from city to city, so familiarize yourself with the items that you can recycle locally.

Use the infographic below as a recycling guide. Print it up and place it close to your garbage cans and recycling bins for a quick reference on recycling and resin codes!