PET plastic is a petro-plastic (made from petroleum) while PLA plastic is a bioplastic (typically made from fermented plant starch). While PET plastic can be easily recycled, PLA is more difficult to recycle and requires a special facility in order to be composted. Before disposing, double-check if your item is either PET or PLA to avoid contaminating your recycling stream.

Learn more about the numerous packaging alternatives to PET plastic here.