What Are the 7 Types of Plastic?

#1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

#2: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

#3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

#4: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

#5: Polypropylene (PP)

#6: Polystyrene (PS)

#7: Other

#1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

Polyethylene terephthalate is the most commonly used plastic in the world. It’s a good gas and moisture barrier, keeping oxygen out and carbonation in, and is mainly used to package food and drinks. Packaging made from this type of plastic can be difficult to clean, and higher temperatures can cause toxins to leach, so it is recommended to not reuse products made from PET.

Polyethylene terephthalate is commonly used to make:

Soda bottles

Water bottles

Beer bottles

Salad dressing bottles

Peanut butter jars

Jelly jars

Rope

Combs

Tote bags

Medicine jars

Clothing and carpet fiber

Prepared food trays and roasting bags

Some shampoo and mouthwash bottles

PET is the most commonly recycled plastic. Although it should not be reused, it can be recycled into:

Fleece garments

Carpets

Stuffing for pillows, winter jackets, and sleeping bags

Bean bags

Storage containers

Rope

Car bumpers

Tennis ball felt

Combs

Cassette tapes

Sails for boats

Furniture

Other plastic bottles

#2: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

High-density polyethylene is considered to be one of the safest forms of plastic, and it’s also the most commonly recycled plastic. It’s a great moisture barrier with excellent chemical resistance, and it’s a more stable form of plastic than PET. While it is considered a safer option for food and drink products, it’s never safe to reuse HDPE plastic for food or drinks if it did not originally contain either.

High-density polyethylene is commonly used to make:

Milk jugs

Non-carbonated drink bottles

Motor oil containers

Shampoos and conditioner bottles

Soap bottles

Detergent bottles

Bleach bottles

Snack food boxes

Cereal box liners

Toys

Buckets

Rigid pipes

Crates

Plant pots

Garden furniture

Refuse bins and compost containers

Park benches

Truck bed liners

HDPE is the most commonly recycled plastic and can be reused. It can be recycled into:

Plastic bottles and jugs

Plastic lumber

Outdoor furniture

Playground equipment

Fencing

Rope

Toys

#3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Polyvinyl chloride is a hard plastic that is known for its long-term stability, good weathering ability, and chemical resistance. These properties make it a good choice for household products like pipes, frames, gutters, and more. PVC is known to leach toxins throughout its entire life cycle, making it one of the most poisonous plastics.

Polyvinyl chloride is commonly used to make:

Plumbing pipes

Credit cards

Carpet backing

Floor covering

Window and door frames

Rain gutters

Pipes and fittings

Wire and cable sheathing

Synthetic leather products

Clear plastic food wrapping

Cooking oil bottles

Teething rings

Children’s and pets’ toys

Garden hoses

Almost all products using PVC require virgin material for their construction; less than 1% of PVC material is recycled. Specialized programs do recycle PVC and use it for:

Flooring

Paneling

Roadside gutters

Traffic cones

Credit cards

Pipes

#4: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Low-density polyethylene’s ability to be tough and flexible while also acting as a good moisture barrier allows it to be an excellent choice for food storage products like bags, containers, bottles, and plastic wrap. LDPE is considered to be one of the less toxic plastics and can be reused for food products.

Low-density polyethylene is commonly used to make:

Plastic wrap

Sandwich bags

Bread bags

Squeezable bottles

Plastic grocery bags

Garbage bags

Food storage containers and lids

Bubble wrap

Irrigation pipes

Thick shopping bags

Wire and cable covering

Coatings for paper milk cartons

Hot and cold beverage cups

LDPE is difficult to recycle, although more plastic recycling programs are gearing up to handle this material. When recycled, LDPE is used for:

Plastic lumber

Compost bins

Trash cans

Floor tiles

#5: Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene is a hard but flexible plastic with a high melting point and excellent chemical resistance. These properties make it one of the safer plastic options to use for food and drink products at a higher temperature.

Polypropylene (PP) is commonly used to make:

Prescription bottles

Most bottle tops

Ketchup and syrup bottles

Yogurt and margarine containers

Potato chip bags

Drinking straws

Hinged lunch boxes

Fabric/carpet fibers

Heavy-duty bags

Hot food containers

Packing tape

Thermal vests

Car parts

Disposable diapers

Sanitary pad liners

Polypropylene is commonly recycled and can be used for:

Shipping pallets

Automotive battery cases

Brooms

Shovels

Watering cans

Mixing bowls

Cutting boards

Ice scrapers

Storage bins

#6: Polystyrene (PS)

Polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, is a rigid plastic that is commonly found foamed and can be brittle. It is a highly toxic plastic that is affected by fats, solvents, and heat and should avoid being used for fatty or hot food and drinks.

Polystyrene (PS) is commonly used to make:

Disposable foam cups

Take-out food containers

Plastic cutlery

Egg cartons

Fast-food trays

Video cases

Seed trays

Coat hangers

Low-cost, brittle toys

Foam packaging (packing peanuts)

Rigid foam insulation

Underlay sheeting for laminate flooring

Polystyrene can be recycled, but it is difficult to do and programs to recycle it are not widely available. When recycled, it is used for:

Cassette tapes

Rigid foam insulation

Egg cartons

Picture frames

Moldings

Home décor products

Foam protective packaging

#7: Other

This category of plastics is a catch-all for other types of plastic resins that don’t belong in any of the other six categories or a combination of these plastics. Some of the plastics in this category include polycarbonate, acrylic, fiberglass, nylon, and acrylonitrile styrene. This category also includes a newer type of plastic, polyactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic that is non-recyclable but can be composted.

The plastics in this category are commonly used to make:

Baby bottles

Sippy cups

Large, multiple-gallon water bottles

Medical storage containers

Eyeglasses

Exterior lighting fixtures

Metal food can linings

CDs and DVDs

Dental sealants

Items made from #7 plastics are combinations of various plastics and are difficult to recycle, but some can be recycled into plastic lumber and specialized products. Products marked #7 with “PLA” should be composted instead of recycled.

Which Plastics Are Toxic?

While all seven types of plastic have a degree of toxicity, some are far more toxic than others. PVC is the most hazardous plastic and has been dubbed the “poison plastic” because it contains numerous toxins that it can leach throughout its entire life cycle.

PS is also considered to be a highly toxic form of plastic. Heat plays a role in the amounts of toxins that are leached from it, so it is advised to not use this form of plastic to hold hot food or drinks. PET can leach toxins if it has been exposed to sunlight or higher temperatures, which is why products made from this type of plastic should not be reused. It can be difficult to know exactly which toxins can be found in #7 plastics, but there is a good chance that most of these plastics will leach toxins like bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS).

The safer plastics are those with a lower chance of leaching toxins. HDPE is one of the safest forms of plastic due to its stability. LDPE is also considered to be less toxic than other plastics and is relatively safe for use. PP is another safer plastic option for food and drink use, as it can withstand high temperatures and thus is less likely to leach chemicals.

Toxins Found to Leach From Plastics