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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Do some plastic materials have misleading recycling symbols?

By Lisa Freedland
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YES

Not all plastic materials displaying the familiar triangular recycling symbol are actually recyclable. The numerals used inside the triangle (from 1 to 7) denote categories derived from Resin Identification Codes. Items labeled with “1” have the “highest recycling value,” whereas those with a “7” (fiberglass, nylon, etc.) can essentially be non-recyclables as they are so difficult to process.

Most consumers are not aware of this distinction. A 2019 study revealed that 68% of 2,000 Americans surveyed thought that any plastic item with an RIC number on it was recyclable. Well-meaning consumers “wish cycle” items that shouldn't be in the bin, slowing down sorting and increasing costs.

In reality, of the 9% of plastic waste that goes on to be recycled, the vast majority belongs to just two of the seven RIC categories, 1 and 2, which include easily recyclable water bottles and milk jugs.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery What those little numbers mean
National Geographic 7 things you didn’t know about plastic (and recycling)
Oceana Recycling myth of the month—Those numbered symbols on single-use plastics do not mean ‘you can recycle me’
Consumer Brands Association How best intentions have led to confusion, contamination and a broken recycling system in America
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Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.