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Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Plastics by the numbers
This article from www.lohas.com.... for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability....
Plastic pervades our lives, and we use tons of it every year to store and stow our foods, drinks, personal care products, and medicines. There are at least 7 types of plastic you may use on a regular basis, some sturdier than others, some safer for your health or for the environment, and some you'd be better off avoiding all together.
To know which is which, you need to know the plastic recycling codes. Usually stamped on the bottom of a container, this code will clue you in to its risks and its recycling potential. So, when choosing a take-out container, water jug, or baby bottle, flip it and check it - and, after using it, chuck it in the right place so it gets properly recycled.
Here's a run-down of all the codes, the plastics used for them, where you'll find these plastics, whether they're safe, and whether they're easy to recycle.
#1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Where you'll find it
One-use pop or water bottles
Liquid cough medicine bottles
Is it safe?
Yes. But due to potential for bacteria buildup, do not use more than once for holding beverages.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes.
#2 High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Where you'll find it
Detergent and shampoo bottles
Translucent milk jugs
Is it safe?
Yes. No known risk of chemical leaking into product.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes.
#3 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Where you'll find it
Meat wrappers
Cooking oil bottles
Some water bottles
Is it safe?
Questionable. PVC contains phthalates, which are suspected carcinogens and hormone disrupters.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes, but make sure to sort #3 plastic bottles separately from #1 plastic. Mixing of these two types can greatly disrupt the recycling process.
#4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Where you'll find it
Grocery bags
Sandwich bags
Cling wrap
Toilet paper, paper towel wrappers
Is it safe?
Yes. This is the material used to make opaque reusable baby bottles.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes, but not all municipal recycling programs accept #4 plastic.
#5 Polypropylene
Where you'll find it
Yogurt cups
Disposable diapers
Is it safe?
Yes. No known risks associated with #5 plastic.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes, but not all municipal recycling programs accept #5 plastic.
#6 Polystyrene (PS, Styrofoam)
Where you'll find it
Disposable coffee cups
Disposable cutlery
Take-out containers
Is it safe?
Questionable. Both the clear form and the more common Styrofoam contain styrene, a suspected carcinogen and hormone disrupter, which can leach into food.
Is it easy to recycle?
No. Many municipal recycling programs do not accept #6 containers. But some do, so check your local recycling program.
#7 Polycarbonate (PC)
Where you'll find it
Baby bottles
Reusable water bottles
Water cooler bottles
Food storage
Medicine bottles
Is it safe?
Questionable. PC contains bisphenol-A (BPA), a suspected carcinogen and hormone disrupter. Avoid heating this kind of plastic.
Is it easy to recycle?
No. Many municipal recycling programs do not accept #7 containers. But some do, so check your local recycling program.
Another option is polylactide plastics (PLA). Food and beverage containers made from PLA contain converted starches from foods like corn, sugar cane, and potatoes. PLA plastics can't be recycled in the conventional way, but if you place an item in your compost heap, it will decompose in roughly 2 weeks. In comparison, most plastics take 100 years to biodegrade! And while these plastics are free from the questionable chemicals of #3, #6, and #7 plastics, it's too soon to tell if PLA is the perfect plastic.
Source: RedOrbit
Published: Sunday, December 07, 2008
Plastic pervades our lives, and we use tons of it every year to store and stow our foods, drinks, personal care products, and medicines. There are at least 7 types of plastic you may use on a regular basis, some sturdier than others, some safer for your health or for the environment, and some you'd be better off avoiding all together.
To know which is which, you need to know the plastic recycling codes. Usually stamped on the bottom of a container, this code will clue you in to its risks and its recycling potential. So, when choosing a take-out container, water jug, or baby bottle, flip it and check it - and, after using it, chuck it in the right place so it gets properly recycled.
Here's a run-down of all the codes, the plastics used for them, where you'll find these plastics, whether they're safe, and whether they're easy to recycle.
#1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Where you'll find it
One-use pop or water bottles
Liquid cough medicine bottles
Is it safe?
Yes. But due to potential for bacteria buildup, do not use more than once for holding beverages.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes.
#2 High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Where you'll find it
Detergent and shampoo bottles
Translucent milk jugs
Is it safe?
Yes. No known risk of chemical leaking into product.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes.
#3 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Where you'll find it
Meat wrappers
Cooking oil bottles
Some water bottles
Is it safe?
Questionable. PVC contains phthalates, which are suspected carcinogens and hormone disrupters.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes, but make sure to sort #3 plastic bottles separately from #1 plastic. Mixing of these two types can greatly disrupt the recycling process.
#4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Where you'll find it
Grocery bags
Sandwich bags
Cling wrap
Toilet paper, paper towel wrappers
Is it safe?
Yes. This is the material used to make opaque reusable baby bottles.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes, but not all municipal recycling programs accept #4 plastic.
#5 Polypropylene
Where you'll find it
Yogurt cups
Disposable diapers
Is it safe?
Yes. No known risks associated with #5 plastic.
Is it easy to recycle?
Yes, but not all municipal recycling programs accept #5 plastic.
#6 Polystyrene (PS, Styrofoam)
Where you'll find it
Disposable coffee cups
Disposable cutlery
Take-out containers
Is it safe?
Questionable. Both the clear form and the more common Styrofoam contain styrene, a suspected carcinogen and hormone disrupter, which can leach into food.
Is it easy to recycle?
No. Many municipal recycling programs do not accept #6 containers. But some do, so check your local recycling program.
#7 Polycarbonate (PC)
Where you'll find it
Baby bottles
Reusable water bottles
Water cooler bottles
Food storage
Medicine bottles
Is it safe?
Questionable. PC contains bisphenol-A (BPA), a suspected carcinogen and hormone disrupter. Avoid heating this kind of plastic.
Is it easy to recycle?
No. Many municipal recycling programs do not accept #7 containers. But some do, so check your local recycling program.
Another option is polylactide plastics (PLA). Food and beverage containers made from PLA contain converted starches from foods like corn, sugar cane, and potatoes. PLA plastics can't be recycled in the conventional way, but if you place an item in your compost heap, it will decompose in roughly 2 weeks. In comparison, most plastics take 100 years to biodegrade! And while these plastics are free from the questionable chemicals of #3, #6, and #7 plastics, it's too soon to tell if PLA is the perfect plastic.
Source: RedOrbit
Published: Sunday, December 07, 2008
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