An early draft of the recycling symbol, sent in a letter designer Gary Anderson wrote to his mother. “This is the closest thing I have to a preliminary sketch,” Anderson said.

Gary Anderson, 75, who designed the widely known recycling symbol when he was a university student in 1970, at his home in Baltimore. Credit... Justin T. Gellerson for The New York Times.

Combining the recycling symbol with the resin identification code “does not accurately represent recyclability as many plastics (especially 3-7) do not have end markets and are not financially ...

“I do see their point,” Anderson said. “It was meant to be an overarching symbol to say, ‘Hey, this is recycled, this has been recycled or it’s something you can recycle.

EPA may change "chasing arrows" recycling symbol for plastics 02:24. The "chasing arrows" logo is universally recognized as a sign to recycle, but the Environmental Protection Agency is now saying ...

The use of the recycling symbol—the familiar three chasing arrows—constitutes a misrepresentation of claims, says the EPA.

You’ve seen the little recycling symbols stamped on plastics, glass, paper, metals and other materials. Here's what they mean ...

Paper recycling symbols indicate that the type of paper used to make a product is fit for recycling. PAP20 is for corrugated fiberboard or cardboard.

Regulators have taken notice. At the national level, the Federal Trade Commission is preparing an update to its “Green Guides” for the use of sustainability labels, including the recycling symbol.