Recycle Symbol Copy and Paste (♻)
Recycle (solid)
Unicode U+267B · HTML ♻ · Emoji 1.0 · Windows Win+.
Tap any symbol to copy it. Each tap also adds it to the box above, so you can copy several together.
Codes for every symbol on this page (Unicode, HTML, emoji version)
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML | Emoji version | Windows Alt code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ♻ | Recycle (solid) | U+267B | ♻ | 1.0 | - |
| ♻️ | Recycle emoji | U+267B U+FE0F | ♻️ | 1.0 | - |
| ♲ | Recycle (outline) | U+2672 | ♲ | - | - |
| ♳ | 1 PET | U+2673 | ♳ | - | - |
| ♴ | 2 HDPE | U+2674 | ♴ | - | - |
| ♵ | 3 PVC | U+2675 | ♵ | - | - |
| ♶ | 4 LDPE | U+2676 | ♶ | - | - |
| ♷ | 5 PP | U+2677 | ♷ | - | - |
| ♸ | 6 PS | U+2678 | ♸ | - | - |
| ♹ | 7 Other plastics | U+2679 | ♹ | - | - |
| ♺ | Generic materials | U+267A | ♺ | - | - |
| 🔄 | Reuse, repeat | U+1F504 | 🔄 | 1.0 | - |
The recycle symbol ♻ is made of three chasing arrows that form a triangle loop, and it stands for using materials again instead of throwing them away. Tap ♻ in the box to copy it, or use the Download PNG button for a transparent recycle symbol png for a poster, chart paper or slide.
On this page: what the universal recycling symbol means, the plastic number codes ♳ to ♹, how to draw the recycling symbol for a school project, and why the sign on a pack does not always mean you can recycle it in your city.
Meaning of the Universal Recycling Symbol
The three arrows of the symbol of recycling show a cycle: a material is collected, processed and made into a new product, which is used and collected again. Many teachers explain the three arrows as reduce, reuse and recycle, which is why the same mark is used as a reduce reuse recycle symbol on school charts.
The design is a Mobius loop, a band with a twist. It was created in 1970 by Gary Anderson, then a student, for a design contest held around the first Earth Day. Today it is free for anyone to use, which is why you see it on so many products.
Plastic Recycle Symbol Codes 1 to 7
On plastic bottles and boxes, a number inside the triangle tells you the type of plastic. These are called resin identification codes. They help recyclers sort plastic; the number alone does not promise that the item will be accepted everywhere.
| Symbol | Code | Plastic | Common examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| ♳ | 1 | PET | Water and soft drink bottles |
| ♴ | 2 | HDPE | Milk, shampoo and detergent bottles |
| ♵ | 3 | PVC | Pipes, some packaging films |
| ♶ | 4 | LDPE | Carry bags, soft squeeze bottles |
| ♷ | 5 | PP | Food containers, bottle caps |
| ♸ | 6 | PS | Disposable cups, thermocol packing |
| ♹ | 7 | Other | Mixed or other plastics |
Codes 1, 2 and 5 are collected in many places. Codes 3, 6 and 7 are harder to recycle.
Recyclable Symbol Does Not Always Mean Recyclable Locally
A recycle symbol on a product only says what the material is or that it can be recycled somewhere. Whether it is actually recycled depends on your local collection system. A few practical tips:
- Rinse food and oil out of containers before giving them to the kabadiwala or dry-waste bin.
- Keep dry waste (paper, plastic, metal, glass) separate from wet kitchen waste.
- Check your city or society's rules on which items they accept.
Medical and infectious waste is different and must never go in recycling; see the biohazard symbol page.
Variants: ♻, ♲, ♺ and the Recycle Bin Symbol
- ♻ Solid black recycling symbol, the most common one.
- ♻️ The same sign as a green emoji on phones, good for a recycling symbol environment message or status.
- ♲ Outline version of the universal recycling symbol.
- ♺ Recycling symbol for generic materials, used for paper or mixed items.
- 🔄 Circular arrows, often used as a reuse symbol or "repeat" in apps.
The recycle bin symbol on a computer is an icon of a bin with arrows; the closest typed character is ♻. For other arrow shapes, see arrow symbols.
How to Draw Recycle Symbol for a School Project
Teachers often ask students to draw the universal recycling code symbol for an environment project or a recycling symbol poster. Simple steps:
- Lightly draw a large triangle with rounded corners.
- Split each side into a band about one finger wide.
- At each corner, bend the band and end it in an arrowhead that points to the next side.
- Give each band a small fold (a half twist) so the loop looks like a ribbon.
- Erase the guide lines and colour the arrows, usually green.
For a sharp print, a recycle symbol vector is better than a hand drawing. Typing ♻ in a design app and enlarging it gives a clean scalable shape, or use the PNG download from this page.
How to Type the Recycling Symbol
- Word: type 267B then Alt+X. For ♳ to ♹, use 2673 to 2679.
- Insert menu: Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, Segoe UI Symbol font.
- Windows: Windows+., search "recycle".
- Mac: Control+Command+Space, search "recycling".
- Phone: search "recycle" in emoji.
- HTML: ♻
None of these characters has an Alt code. Other safety and environment signs are on our warning symbols hub and the doctor symbol page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the symbol of recycle?
The symbol of recycle is ♻, three arrows forming a loop in a triangle shape. It is called the universal recycling symbol.
Who designed the recycling symbol?
Gary Anderson designed the Mobius loop recycling symbol in 1970, when he was a student, for a design contest.
What does the number inside the plastic recycle symbol mean?
It shows the type of plastic, from 1 (PET) to 7 (other). It helps sorting but does not guarantee that your area recycles that plastic.
Is the recycle symbol free to use?
Yes, the basic Mobius loop design is widely used freely on packaging, posters and school work. Use it honestly, only on items that are actually recyclable or made from recycled material.