Meaning
The recycling symbol ♻ is a triangle of chasing arrows, designed by Gary Anderson in 1970. It signals that a material is recyclable or that a product contains recycled content, depending on how a pack is labeled. Copy ♻ or ♻️ for the universal loop.
Numbered marks are different. “Recycling symbol 5” or “recycling logo 5” is the resin identification code inside the triangle: 5 stands for polypropylene (PP), used in yogurt tubs, bottle caps, and many food containers. Whether your city actually recycles #5 depends on local rules — the number identifies the plastic, it does not guarantee curbside pickup.
Other common codes: 1 PET, 2 HDPE, 4 LDPE, 6 PS, 7 other. Use ♻ as the general icon. Use ♳–♯ style numbered triangles (or the printed “5” in a triangle) when you mean a specific plastic.
Origin
1970 student-design contest for the first Earth Day container; later standardized with numbered resin codes on plastics.
Cultural variations
The empty loop is a general eco mark. Numbered triangles are industry codes. Some regions treat the logo as a recyclability claim with legal rules — packaging teams should follow local labeling law, not just paste ♻.
Frequently asked questions
What does the recycling symbol mean?+
The chasing-arrows loop ♻ means recycling or recycled content in a general sense. Copy it when you need the universal eco mark.
What is recycling symbol 5 or recycling logo 5?+
The number 5 inside a triangle is the plastic resin code for polypropylene (PP). It tells you the material type. Your local recycling program decides whether #5 is accepted.
How do I copy the recycling symbol?+
Click ♻ on this page. The emoji version is ♻️.