Recycling symbol emoji ♻️
♻️ is the recycling symbol: three green arrows chasing each other in a triangle, the Möbius loop designed in 1970 for the first Earth Day.
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What the recycling symbol ♻️ emoji means
♻️ is the recycling symbol: three green arrows chasing each other in a triangle, the Möbius loop designed in 1970 for the first Earth Day. It means recycle, reuse, sustainability — bins, zero-waste posts, eco brands, Earth Day — and, loosely, anything recycled or repeated: a recycled joke, a reused outfit. It has been a Unicode character since 2005 and an emoji since 2015. The wider green set — 🌍 earth, 🌱 seedling, 💚 green heart — is on the green emoji page.
Unicode name: recycling symbol · U+267B U+FE0F · Emoji 0.6 (original set) · group: Symbols.
How people use it
- Recycling: bins, collection days, packaging
- Sustainability: eco brands, climate posts
- Reuse: thrift, upcycling, second-hand
- Recycled content: reposts, old jokes
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| recycling symbolU+267B U+FE0F | Recycle, reuse | ||
| globe showing Europe-AfricaU+1F30D | The planet | ||
| seedlingU+1F331 | Growth, green | ||
| wastebasketU+1F5D1 U+FE0F | Trash | ||
| counterclockwise arrows buttonU+1F504 | Counterclockwise arrows | Refresh, cycle |
The recycling symbol as a cycle symbol
The recycling symbol’s three folded arrows form a continuous loop, visually expressing a closed-loop system. Materials are collected, processed, and remade into new products, with the circular design representing the idea that resources can be used again rather than discarded.
In Unicode, several other symbols also convey cycles or repetition, such as 🔄 counterclockwise arrows button and 🔁 repeat button. When you choose ♻️, you highlight sustainability and circularity specifically, rather than generic repetition, making it a cycle symbol for environmental messaging, recycling programmes, and eco-friendly initiatives.
♻️ as a zero waste logo
♻️ is often used as a zero waste logo in social media, blogs, and product packaging. It signals a commitment to reducing waste, and often appears alongside other eco emoji like 🌱 seedling or 🧺 basket to reinforce the message.
When used this way, ♻️ is not a certification mark — it does not guarantee a product is recyclable or compostable. Instead, it communicates intent: the person or brand aligns with zero waste principles such as refusing single-use plastics, composting food scraps, and buying second-hand. The symbol works as a visual shorthand for the whole lifestyle.
Questions people ask
What does ♻️ mean?
Recycling and sustainability — the three-arrow loop from recycling bins.
Is ♻️ always green?
Almost: Apple, Google, Samsung and Twemoji draw it green. Some text fonts show a black glyph if the variation selector is missing.
What does ♻️ mean in a repost?
That the content is recycled — a repost or a recurring joke.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
