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Recycling markings (information page)

Synonyms

material labels of packaging, recycling code, recycling triangle, recycling symbols, 01, PET 01, RPET, 02, PE-HD 02, 03, 04, PE-LD 04, 05, PP 05, 06, PS 06, 07, PAP 21, PAP 22, 20, 21, 22, C/PAP, 81, C81, 84, C/PAP 81, C/PAP 82, C/PAP 84, C/PAP 85, 40, 41, 70, 71 , 72, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98

Waste Information

Packages, and sometimes also other products, often feature a triangle icon and a combination of numbers and/or letters.
 
This marking indicates the material composition of the packaging. It often also indicates how to sort the product in question, but not always. 
 
! More important than the markings is identifying whether the waste to be sorted is packaging, i.e. a bag, box, case, wrapper, bottle, band, etc. from a purchased product. 

  • If it is packaging, sort it into collection for carton packages, plastic packages, glass packages or small metal items based on what material the packaging mostly consists of.
  • At this point, the material label can help you identify the correct collection container.
  • If it is not packaging, the item is almost invariably sorted into mixed waste. However, metal items that are more than half metal belong in metal collection.

Composite materials
 
Packaging consisting of two or more materials is sorted according to the main raw material. These packages are often marked with C/ followed by a combination of letters indicating the main raw material, e.g. C/PAP is carton-based packaging.

 

List of packaging material markings

  1. 1

    Plastic

    These are plastics. For packaging, sort it into collection for plastic packages. Items other than packaging do not belong in the collection container.

    01 PET (polyethylene terephthalate): e.g. soft drink bottles

    02 HDPE or PE-HD (polyethylene)

    03 PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

    04 LDPE or PE-LD (polyethylene)

    05 PP (polypropylene)

    06 PS (polystyrene): e.g. takeout styrofoam containers

    07 O (other plastic grade or combination of plastics): e.g. cold cuts packages with a tear-off lid

    These are plastic-based composite materials. In addition to the number, the package may have the symbol C/ and one of the above-mentioned letter combinations. These packages are sorted into collection for plastic packages.
     
    90 (Plastic + aluminium): e.g. coffee packets
    91 (Plastic + tinplate)
    92 (Plastic + metal)

  2. 2

    Paper, carton and cardboard

    These are fibre packaging, i.e. paper, carton and cardboard packages. Sort these packages into carton collection. Items other than packaging do not belong in the collection container.

    20 PAP (corrugated cardboard): brown corrugated cardboard boxes

    21 PAP (other carton and cardboard): e.g. biscuit and cereal packages

    22 PAP (paper): e.g. bags for flour and sugar

     

    These are paper, carton or cardboard-based composite materials. In addition to the number, the package usually has the symbol C/PAP. These packages are sorted into carton collection.

    80 Paper/carton/cardboard + metal

    81 Paper/carton/cardboard + plastic

    82 Paper/carton/cardboard + aluminium

    83 Paper/carton/cardboard + tinplate

    84 Paper/carton/cardboard + plastic + aluminium: e.g. cartons for liquids, such as juice and oat milk cartons

    85 Paper/carton/cardboard + plastic + aluminium + tinplate: e.g. Pringles cans 

     

  3. 3

    Metal

    Sort into collection for small metal items, including non-packaging.

    40 FE (steel): e.g. metal tins

    41 ALU (aluminium): e.g. soft drink cans, foil trays

  4. 4

    Glass

    These are glass packages, i.e. glass bottles or jars. Sort only packaging into glass collection. Items other than packaging do not belong in the collection container.
    70 Clear glass
    71 Green glass
    72 Brown glass
     
    These are glass-based composite materials, such as bottles and jars with caps and lids. 
     
    95 Glass + plastic
    96 Glass + aluminium
    97 Glass + tinplate
    98 Glass + metal