At the Container Receiving Units Centers, containers are initially inspected and classified into rinsed and non-rinsed.

After this classification, non-rinsed containers are separated from the others and rinsed ones are sorted by material. Containers can be made of 4 materials: HDPE, COEX (EVPE), PET and Metallic Package.

The final recycled products can be determined accordingly to plastic type or metallic substance employed in the composition of the container. The identification of containers can be facilitated by abbreviations and a specific worldwide acknowledged numbering.

Composition of the containers:

HDPE
High Density Polyethylene is the world's second most recycled resin. This resin is highly resistant to impact and chemical agents. Form of identification: through HDPE (high density polyethylene), PE (polyethylene) or PEAD abbreviations. It is identified with number 2.



PET
PET, or Ethylene Terephthalate, has an excellent barrier for gases and odors. Form of identification: through PET or PETE abbreviations printed on recipients outside.
It is a mono-coat structure identified by number 1.



COEX
COEX, or co-extrusion, is also known by EVPE abbreviation.
Form of identification: through COEX, EVPE or PAPE (polyamide polyethylene) abbreviations.
Its identification number is 7.



PP
PP or Polypropylene is identified by PP abbreviation and the number 5, both printed on the bottom of the containers.





METALLIC PACKAGE
The most used metallic package is the metallic bucket of steel foil. This container, although being the most common one amongst metallic containers, represents only 10% of the entire amount of the Brazilian containers.