Plastic #7 (Other) Trash Plastic #7 is considered a catchall category for mixed plastics. Because these items are often a mix of different plastic resin types and chemicals, they are hard to recycle. Common examples include bioplastics, car parts, electronic casing, reusable water bottles, sippy cups, toys, and tupperware. Athens Services recycles plastics #1 PET bottles and clamshells, #2 HDPE, and #5 PP. To identify your products’ plastic type, look for the resin number inside the chasing arrows, usually located on the bottom of the item. The recycling symbol does not indicate if the product is recyclable or not. BioplasticsPlant-based “compostable” plastics or bioplastics (such as PLA or PHA) are often labeled #7, but they are not allowed in Athens’ recycling or organics containers. The addition of bioplastic, wax, and/or petroleum plastic are considered contaminants. Find out what to do with compostable (bioplastic) bags and compostable cups, plates & utensils. Biodegradable Plastic Is Not Recyclable Vegetable-based plastics such as PLA are often labeled as plastic #7, but they are not recyclable. Find out what to do with biodegradable bags and compostable cups, plates & utensils. Did You Know? PLA Plastic vs. PET Plastic PET plastic is a petroleum-based plastic while PLA plastic is a bioplastic typically made from fermented plant starch. While PET plastic can be easily recycled, PLA is more difficult to recycle and requires a special facility in order to be composted. Before disposing, avoid contaminating your recycling by double-checking whether your item is PET or PLA and the current disposal instructions for that material.