Jul 10, 2014

ASTM International has recently updated the adjunct for its standard D7611, Practice for Coding Plastic Manufactured Articles for Resin Identification.

The adjunct contains graphic representations of the Resin Identification Code (RIC), as a molded, imprinted or raised symbol or wording used by manufacturers to imprint on plastic products or materials. The RIC symbols, each a combination of triangles, numbers and letters, are familiar to anyone who encounters a plastic bottle or other potentially recyclable material. Each symbol identifies manufactured articles made from various resin materials, and ultimately facilitates the proper end of life usage for the product. 

Previously only available as a PDF download, the adjunct is now available in a higher resolution vector format that allows the adjunct files to be enlarged or reduced with no loss to image quality. They are cleaner and crisper, with a smaller file size. These improvements will allow greater precision for organizations using the adjunct for imprinting.

First developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988 to meet the needs of recyclers and manufacturers for a consistent, uniform coding system that can be applied worldwide, the RIC first became an ASTM standard as D7611 in 2010. The standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D20.95 on Recycled Plastics, part of ASTM International Committee D20 on Plastics.

Originally intended to assist waste recovery facilities in the sorting of plastics products prior to recycling, the system is now used by municipalities, scrap brokers, recyclers, manufacturers, consumers and others to manage plastics materials’ end of life. The core mission of the RIC system is resin identification and quality control prior to recycling.

ASTM standard D7611 provides codes for the six most commonly found resin types, with a seventh category created for all other types. These categories include:

1.    Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE)
2.    High density polyethylene (HDPE)
3.    Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
4.    Low density polyethylene (LDPE)
5.    Polypropylene (PP)
6.    Polystyrene (PS)
7.    Others, including materials made with more than one resin from categories 1-6.

D20.95 invites all interested parties to join in the ongoing task of maintaining D7611 and in other standards developing activities regarding recycled plastics.

D7611 and its adjunct are available for purchase online at www.astm.org or by contacting ASTM Customer Relations (phone: 877-909-ASTM; sales@astm.org). ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-environmental or follow us on Twitter @ASTMEnvironment.

ASTM Committee D20 Next Meeting: Nov. 9-12, 2014, November Committee Week, New Orleans, La.
ASTM Staff Contact: Alyson Fick, Phone: 610-832-9710; afick@astm.org

Release #9610