Guide · labels and packaging
Recycling and microwave safe symbols, explained
The chasing-arrows triangle with a number in it is not a recycling symbol: it is a resin code that says what plastic the item is made of. In Australia, whether to recycle it is shown by the Australasian Recycling Label, which tells you what to do with each part of the pack. A microwave safe symbol is usually a few wavy lines, and has no single official design.
The plastic resin codes
What the number in the triangle means
| Code | Plastic | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PET | Drink bottles, food trays |
| 2 | HDPE | Milk bottles, detergent bottles |
| 3 | PVC | Pipes, some blister packs |
| 4 | LDPE | Soft plastic bags and film |
| 5 | PP | Takeaway containers, yoghurt tubs, bottle caps |
| 6 | PS | Foam cups and trays, some cutlery |
| 7 | Other | Mixed or less common plastics |
The code identifies the material. Whether your council’s kerbside bin takes it is a separate question; check the council’s list or the label on the pack.
What we print for this
Proofed before they run
Common questions
What is the Australasian Recycling Label?
The on-pack label used in Australia and New Zealand that tells you, part by part, what to do with packaging: which parts are recyclable in the kerbside bin, which are conditionally recyclable (for example, only if emptied or separated), and which are not recyclable. It replaces guessing from the resin code.
Does a triangle with a number mean it can be recycled?
No. The chasing arrows around a number are a resin identification code, describing the type of plastic. Plenty of items carrying one are not accepted in kerbside recycling.
What does the microwave safe symbol look like?
Usually wavy lines, sometimes inside a drawing of a microwave or above a dish. There is no single official design, so read it with the words around it. A crossed-out microwave or crossed-out waves means not microwave safe.
Can I put a recycling or microwave symbol on my own labels?
You can print what is true of your packaging. The Australasian Recycling Label is a licensed scheme run by APCO, so using it means joining the program and following its rules. A microwave safe claim should be one your container’s manufacturer supports.
Labels for your own products
Proofed before they print
Putting the symbols on your own jars, tubs or bottles? Label rolls suit a run of hundreds or thousands for hand or machine application, from $206.25; short runs and odd shapes go on stickers. Send the label artwork, or the wording and the symbols, and we set it up for your proof.
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