Sometimes it seems like everything in modern America is made of plastic. The versatile material is in our cars, toys, packaging, clothing, home goods, food utensils, and so much more — but it's also littering our streets, clogging our waterways, and choking marine life. In fact, one 2016 study found that 32% of plastic packaging ends up in our oceans every year.

Many plastics can be readily recycled, but according to National Geographic, a whopping 91% of plastic has never even been recycled. With all the different rules and symbols, it can be confusing for consumers to figure out exactly what each plastic recycling symbol means and how to recycle it. While the universal plastic resin symbol (three chasing arrows forming a triangle) remains the same, the numbers one through seven inside make a significant difference. FYI: Just because a product has the chasing arrows symbol, doesn't mean it's recyclable — it's just an indicator of the type of plastic.

Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our team is passionate about sustainability and the environment. From helping you decode eco-friendly claims to sharing the winners of our first-ever Sustainable Packaging Awards, we're here to help you make smarter decisions for your home and the environment. First, read up on recycling tips from our environmental experts.

How to know what plastics can be recycled

Every town and city has different recycling programs, so you'll often have to check your location's rules to find out exactly what you can recycle. Plus, "there are times when your recycling program may change what it collects," says Mike Brown of Brown and Wilmanns Environmental, one of our environmental consultants. Even if there isn't a way for your town to recycle a certain material, he says there's still a chance they might collect it anyways and either store it or dispose of it.



Of course, the symbols themselves need explaining, too. Here's what each plastic recycling symbol means, along with examples it's found in and how to recycle it.

