PLASTIC DENSITY

TABLE

Resin ID Name Density Uses

Code (g/mL)

Plastics

PETE Soft drink and water bottles,

1 Polyethylene 1.38-1.39 peanut butter containers, salad
terephthalate dressing and vegetable oil containers

HDPE Milk jugs, detergents, household

2 High-density 0.95-0.96 cleaners, motor oil containers,
polyethylene some garbage bags, butter and yogurt tubs

Clear food packaging, medical

PVC
3 1.16-1.45 equipment, siding, piping,
Polyvinyl chloride windows, shampoo bottles

LDPE Squeezable bottles, various bags

4 Low-density 0.92-0.94 (for bread, frozen food, shopping
polyethylene and dry cleaning), clothing, furniture

PP Syrup bottles, ketchup bottles,

5 0.90-0.91
Polypropylene caps, straws, medicine bottles

PS
CD cases, meat trays, egg
6 Polystyrene (two 0.020-1.07
cartons, disposable plates and cups
kinds)

Other DVD cases, iPod packaging, signs

7 Varies
Many kinds and displays, nylons

Other Substances
Fresh Water 1.00

Sea Water 1.03

©2014, 2010, Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. All rights reserved.

PLASTIC DENSITY
TABLE KEY
Resin ID Name Density Uses Where in the
Code (g/mL) Water Column

Plastics
Soft drink and water
PETE bottles, peanut butter
1 Polyethylene 1.38-1.39 containers, salad Sinks: benthic feeders
terephthalate dressing and vegetable
oil containers

Milk jugs, detergents,

HDPE household cleaners,
2 High-density 0.95-0.96 motor oil containers, Floats: surface feeders
polyethylene some garbage bags,
butter and yogurt tubs

Clear food packaging,

PVC medical equipment,
3 1.16-1.45 Sinks: benthic feeders
Polyvinyl chloride siding, piping, windows,
shampoo bottles

Squeezable bottles,
LDPE various bags (for bread,
4 Low-density 0.92-0.94 frozen food, shopping Floats: surface feeders
polyethylene and dry cleaning),
clothing, furniture

Syrup bottles, ketchup

PP
5 0.90-0.91 bottles, caps, straws, Floats: surface feeders
Polypropylene
medicine bottles

PS CD cases, meat trays, Sinks or Floats:

6 Polystyrene (two 0.020-1.07 egg cartons, disposable surface or benthic
kinds) plates and cups feeders
DVD cases, iPod
Other Varies: potentially
7 Varies packaging, signs
Many kinds all feeders
and displays, nylons

Other Substances
Fresh Water 1.00

Sea Water 1.03

©2014, 2010, Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. All rights reserved.