Virginia Decodedhttps://vacode.org34566810.1-1415.1Labeling of plastic container products required; penalty2026ConservationActivities Administered by Other EntitiesVirginia Waste Management ActLitter Control and Recycling

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, expose for sale, or distribute any plastic bottle or rigid plastic container unless the container is labeled indicating the plastic resin used to produce the container. Such label shall appear on or near the bottom of the container, be clearly visible, and consist of a number placed within three triangulated arrows and letters placed below the triangle of arrows. The triangulated arrows shall be equilateral, formed by three arrows with the apex of each point of the triangle at the midpoint of each arrow, rounded with a short radius. The pointer (arrowhead) of each arrow shall be at the midpoint of each side of the triangle with a short gap separating the pointer from the base of the adjacent arrow. The triangle, formed by three arrows curved at their midpoints, shall depict a clockwise path around the code number. The numbers and letters shall be as follows:

1. For polyethylene terepthalate, the letters “PETE” and the number 1.

2. For high density polyethylene, the letters “HDPE” and the number 2.

3. For vinyl, the letter “V” and the number 3.

4. For low density polyethylene, the letters “LDPE” and the number 4.

5. For polypropylene, the letters “PP” and the number 5.

6. For polystyrene, the letters “PS” and the number 6.

7. For any other plastic resin, the letters “OTHER” and the number 7.

B. As used in subsection A of this section: “Container,” unless otherwise specified, refers to “rigid plastic container” or “plastic bottle” as those terms are defined below.

“Plastic bottle” means a plastic container intended for single use that has a neck that is smaller than the container, accepts a screw-type, snap cap or other closure and has a capacity of sixteen fluid ounces or more but less than five gallons.

“Rigid plastic container” means any formed or molded container, other than a bottle, intended for single use, composed predominantly of plastic resin, and having a relatively inflexible finite shape or form with a capacity of eight ounces or more but less than five gallons.

C. Any person convicted of a violation of the provisions of subsection A of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

1990, c. 519.