---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-34. Labeling rigid plastic containers or bottles.
collection: code
id: 12-8-34
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-34 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-34
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-34.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-34/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=892
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / WASTE MANAGEMENT / SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-8-34. Labeling rigid plastic containers or bottles.

(a) On and after January 1, 1991, it shall be unlawful to manufacture for use in Georgia or offer for sale in Georgia any rigid plastic container or rigid plastic bottle which is not labeled in accordance with subsection (b) of this Code section.

(b) On and after January 1, 1991, any rigid plastic container or rigid plastic bottle manufactured for use in Georgia or offered for sale in Georgia shall be labeled with a code molded into the plastic product which indicates the resin used to produce the bottle or container. Such coding shall conform with the following:

(1) Rigid plastic containers or rigid plastic bottles with basecups or other components of the secondary material may, if the materials are compatible in recycling systems, carry the code of the basic material (even when the basic code is applied to the basecup of the secondary material); otherwise ‘‘7-other’’ is appropriate.

(2) The label code shall consist of a number placed inside a triangle and letters placed below the triangle as required by paragraph (3) of this subsection. The triangle 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 the three arrows curved at their midpoints, shall depict a clockwise path around the code number;

(3) The numbers and letters used on labels described in this Code section and their interpretations shall be as follows:

‘‘1-PETE’’ (polyethylene terephthalate)

‘‘2-HDPE’’ (high-density polyethylene)

‘‘3-V’’ (vinyl)

‘‘4-LDPE’’ (low-density polyethylene)

‘‘5-PP’’ (polypropylene)

‘‘6-PS’’ (polystyrene)

‘‘7-OTHER’’ (all other resins and layered multimaterial)

## History

Code 1981, § 12-8-34, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 412, § 1; Ga. L. 2001, p. 4, § 12.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1990, a comma was inserted following ‘‘midpoints’’ in the last sentence of paragraph (b)(2) and in the last item listed in paragraph (b)(3) ‘‘all’’ was substituted for ‘‘All’’ and parentheses were added around language following ‘‘7-OTHER’’.

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1992, a period was deleted at the end of the Code section.