WasteSpot Symbols
Recycling symbols and codes explained.
Search PAP codes, plastic resin numbers, metal packaging codes, crossed-out bin marks, compostability claims and regional recycling labels.
Popular guides
Common recycling symbols people look up
Start with a direct guide for a code or mark, then check the local collection rule for the item.
Photo identification
Identify a symbol from a photo
Upload or photograph one clear symbol. WasteSpot sends a re-encoded image to the configured recognition service and deletes its temporary local copy after the request.
Plastic resin identificationPlastic resin code 1 — PET or PETE1 PET / PETE1 PET / PETE identifies Polyethylene terephthalate. It does not by itself confirm that the item is accepted by a local recyc…
Plastic resin identificationPlastic resin code 2 — HDPE2 HDPE2 HDPE identifies High-density polyethylene. It does not by itself confirm that the item is accepted by a local recycling se…
Plastic resin identificationPlastic resin code 3 — PVC3 PVC3 PVC identifies Polyvinyl chloride. It does not by itself confirm that the item is accepted by a local recycling service.
Plastic resin identificationPlastic resin code 4 — LDPE4 LDPE4 LDPE identifies Low-density polyethylene. It does not by itself confirm that the item is accepted by a local recycling ser…
Plastic resin identificationPlastic resin code 5 — PP5 PP5 PP identifies Polypropylene. It does not by itself confirm that the item is accepted by a local recycling service.
Plastic resin identificationPlastic resin code 6 — PS6 PS6 PS identifies Polystyrene. It does not by itself confirm that the item is accepted by a local recycling service.
Plastic resin identificationPlastic resin code 7 — OTHER7 OTHER7 OTHER identifies Other plastics or multi-resin plastics outside codes 1–6. It does not by itself confirm that the item is…
Paper and fibre codePackaging material code PAP 20 — corrugated fibreboardPAP 20PAP 20 identifies corrugated fibreboard: board built with one or more fluted paper layers between flat liner layers.
Paper and fibre codePackaging material code PAP 21 — non-corrugated fibreboardPAP 21PAP 21 identifies non-corrugated fibreboard, commonly called cartonboard or paperboard.
Paper and fibre codePackaging material code PAP 22 — paperPAP 22PAP 22 identifies paper as the main packaging material.
Metal packaging codePackaging material code FE 40 — steelFE 40FE 40 identifies steel-based packaging, including tinplate packaging.
Metal packaging codePackaging material code ALU 41 — aluminiumALU 41ALU 41 identifies aluminium packaging or an aluminium packaging component.
Wood packaging codePackaging material code FOR 50 — woodFOR 50FOR 50 identifies wood as the main packaging material.
Wood packaging codePackaging material code FOR 51 — corkFOR 51FOR 51 identifies cork as the main packaging material.
Textile packaging codePackaging material code TEX 60 — cottonTEX 60TEX 60 identifies cotton as the main packaging material or packaging component.
Textile packaging codePackaging material code TEX 61 — juteTEX 61TEX 61 identifies jute as the main packaging material.
Glass packaging codePackaging material code GL 70 — colourless glassGL 70GL 70 identifies colourless packaging glass.
Glass packaging codePackaging material code GL 71 — green glassGL 71GL 71 identifies green packaging glass.
Glass packaging codePackaging material code GL 72 — brown glassGL 72GL 72 identifies brown or amber packaging glass.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/PAP 80 — paper/cardboard + miscellaneous metalsC/PAP 80C/PAP 80 identifies composite packaging made mainly from paper or fibreboard with miscellaneous metals.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/PAP 81 — paper/cardboard + plasticC/PAP 81C/PAP 81 identifies composite packaging made mainly from paper or fibreboard combined with plastic.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/PAP 82 — paper/cardboard + aluminiumC/PAP 82C/PAP 82 identifies composite packaging made mainly from paper or fibreboard combined with aluminium.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/PAP 83 — paper/cardboard + tinplateC/PAP 83C/PAP 83 identifies composite packaging made mainly from paper or fibreboard combined with tinplate.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/PAP 84 — paper/cardboard + plastic + aluminiumC/PAP 84C/PAP 84 identifies composite packaging made mainly from paper or fibreboard combined with plastic and aluminium.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/PAP 85 — paper/cardboard + plastic + aluminium + tinplateC/PAP 85C/PAP 85 identifies composite packaging made mainly from paper or fibreboard combined with plastic, aluminium and tinplate.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code 90 — plastic + aluminiumC/[plastic] 90C/[plastic] 90 identifies composite packaging made mainly from plastic combined with aluminium.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code 91 — plastic + tinplateC/[plastic] 91C/[plastic] 91 identifies composite packaging made mainly from plastic combined with tinplate.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code 92 — plastic + miscellaneous metalsC/[plastic] 92C/[plastic] 92 identifies composite packaging made mainly from plastic combined with miscellaneous metals.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/GL 95 — glass + plasticC/GL 95C/GL 95 identifies composite packaging made mainly from glass combined with plastic.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/GL 96 — glass + aluminiumC/GL 96C/GL 96 identifies composite packaging made mainly from glass combined with aluminium.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/GL 97 — glass + tinplateC/GL 97C/GL 97 identifies composite packaging made mainly from glass combined with tinplate.
Composite packaging codeComposite packaging code C/GL 98 — glass + miscellaneous metalsC/GL 98C/GL 98 identifies composite packaging made mainly from glass combined with miscellaneous metals.
General recycling symbolMobius loop recycling symbolMobius loopThe three-arrow Mobius loop is a general recycling symbol. Context determines whether it is claiming recyclability or referr…
Recycled-content claimRecycled content percentage mark% recycled contentA percentage shown with a recycling loop usually states how much recycled material the product or package contains.
Producer-responsibility markGreen Dot participation markGreen DotThe Green Dot indicates participation in a producer-responsibility or packaging recovery system where the mark is licensed.…
Separate collectionCrossed-out wheeled bin for electrical equipmentWEEE binThe crossed-out wheeled bin on electrical equipment means the product must not be discarded with unsorted household waste.
Electrical equipment date markerBlack bar below the WEEE crossed-out binWEEE date barA horizontal bar beneath the crossed-out wheeled bin is used to identify electrical equipment placed on the market after 13…
Separate collectionCrossed-out wheeled bin for batteriesBattery binThe crossed-out wheeled bin on a battery means the battery must not be discarded with unsorted household waste.
Battery composition markingBattery chemical symbols Pb and Cd (Hg on legacy products)Pb / Cd · Hg legacyPb or Cd below the crossed-out battery bin identifies lead or cadmium above the applicable EU threshold. Hg may still be enc…
Sorting instructionSeparate collection instructionSeparate collectionA separate-collection instruction means the item must use a dedicated collection or take-back route rather than ordinary mix…
Refund and return markDeposit return label or markDRS / depositA deposit-return mark identifies a container covered by a refund scheme, but the exact logo, value, size and return conditio…
Reuse instructionReusable or refillable packaging indicationReusable / refillableA reuse or refill indication means the package is intended for multiple rotations or refilling within a defined system.
Compostability claimIndustrial compostable markIndustrial compostableAn industrial-compostable mark means the item is intended to break down under specified controlled composting conditions, no…
Compostability claimHome compostable markHome compostableA home-compostable mark claims that the item can break down under the specified home-composting test conditions.
Behavioural markTidyman anti-litter symbolTidymanThe Tidyman symbol reminds the user to dispose of the item responsibly and not litter.
Material recycling markGeneric aluminium recycling indicationAluminiumA aluminium mark suggests that the coded component concerns aluminium packaging, but the exact artwork and claim should be r…
Material recycling markGeneric steel recycling indicationSteelA steel mark suggests that the coded component concerns steel packaging, but the exact artwork and claim should be read with…
Material recycling markGeneric glass recycling indicationGlassA glass mark suggests that the coded component concerns packaging glass, but the exact artwork and claim should be read with…
Material recycling markGeneric paper recycling indicationPaperA paper mark suggests that the coded component concerns paper and board packaging, but the exact artwork and claim should be…
Certified environmental labelEU EcolabelEU EcolabelThe EU Ecolabel is the European Union’s official voluntary label for environmental excellence. It is awarded only to eligibl…
National sorting informationFrench Triman and Info-triTriman / Info-triIn France, the Triman symbol is paired with Info-tri instructions that tell consumers how to sort the product or each packag…
EU single-use plastic markingEU “Plastic in product” mark for wet wipesWet wipes · plastic in productThis harmonised EU mark tells consumers that the covered wet wipes contain plastic and must not be flushed or littered.
EU single-use plastic markingEU “Plastic in product” mark for sanitary productsSanitary products · plastic in productThis harmonised EU mark tells consumers that the covered sanitary products contain plastic and must not be flushed or litter…
EU single-use plastic markingEU “Plastic in product” mark for tobacco filtersTobacco filters · plastic in productThis harmonised EU mark tells consumers that the covered tobacco filters contain plastic and must not be littered.
EU single-use plastic markingEU plastic-content mark for beverage cupsCup · plastic in productThis harmonised EU mark tells consumers that the covered single-use beverage cup contains plastic and must not be littered.
Regional on-pack recycling labelJapan PET bottle identification markPET bottle markJapan’s PET bottle mark identifies designated PET bottles subject to the country’s container and packaging sorting system.
Regional on-pack recycling labelJapan plastic containers and packaging identification markプラ / plastic packagingJapan’s plastic packaging mark identifies plastic containers and packaging covered by the national identification system, ex…
Regional on-pack recycling labelJapan paper containers and packaging identification mark紙 / paper packagingJapan’s paper packaging mark identifies covered paper containers and packaging for consumer sorting.
Regional on-pack recycling labelAustralasian Recycling LabelARLThe Australasian Recycling Label gives a separate disposal instruction for each packaging component, such as recycle, check…
Regional on-pack recycling labelUK On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL)OPRLOPRL labels tell UK consumers whether a packaging component should be recycled, not recycled or taken through a specialist r…
Regional on-pack recycling labelHow2Recycle labelHow2RecycleHow2Recycle combines a packaging component name, material, preparation instruction and a designation such as Widely Recyclab…
Regional on-pack recycling labelTaiwan Four-in-one recycling markTaiwan recycling markTaiwan’s recycling mark identifies products or containers covered by the regulated recycling system and supports collection…