Table 1.

Several commonly used plastics

Plastic type	Application	Environmental characteristics
Polyethylene (PE)	A wide range of inexpensive uses including supermarket bags and plastic bottles	When exposed to ambient solar radiation the plastic produces two greenhouse gases, methane and ethylene; biodegradability; toxicity
Polypropylene (PP)	Bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt containers, appliances, car fenders and bumpers, and plastic pressure pipe systems
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)	Carbonated drink bottles, peanut butter jars, plastic film, and microwavable packaging
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)	Plumbing pipes and guttering, electrical wire/cable insulation, shower curtains, window frames, and flooring
Polystyrene (PS)	Foam peanuts, food containers, plastic tableware, disposable cups, plates, cutlery, compact disc (CD), and cassette boxes
Polyester (PES)	Fibers and textiles
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)	Outdoor furniture, siding, floor tiles, shower curtains, and clamshell packaging