Are you confused about the numbers on the bottoms of your plastics? We may have briefly been taught what they meant in school, but who was listening? As a rule, I try to stay away from plastic as much as possible. If you look around your house, chances are it will only take a second to spot the plastic that is your life. It would make sense to be educated about the very man-made product we surround ourselves and our children with each day. So, back to the numbers on plastic ... I had a lot of questions and I was sure a lot of people probably asked the same questions. So, my friends, I took it upon myself to do some research and this is what I found ...
You can spend a lot of time diving into what plastic is and how it's made. There are various types of plastic and they can be quite different down to the molecular level. I'm not going to get into all the new types of natural plastics that are being dabbled with or the new ways scientists have found of getting plastic back to its natural state, but it is definitely worth looking into!
Most of us already know most plastic is made of oil and that you can store just about anything in it without there being a chemical reaction i.e. the plastic doesn't break down when you put water or cleaning chemicals inside it. We also know that there are many types of plastic out there. They can be put into different categories. Now for the part you've been waiting for-the numbers. According to the EPA's website, these numbers on the bottom of your plastic containers are called resin identification codes. These codes were introduced because municipal recycling programs only accept certain types of plastic for recycling. The numbers are very helpful in determining what we, as consumers, can throw in the recycling bin. This link to the EPA's website will provide you with the table that breaks down which type of plastic each number represents. Check with your local municipal recycling center for which types they accept and if you need to remove the lids and/or labels. Recycling centers have a tough time recycling plastic. Other materials, such as glass, are much easier to recycle. With glass, they sort by color. With plastic, it is much more difficult. One product can have numerous types of plastic and some may not be recyclable. This is one good reason to stay away from plastic as much as possible. Another reason is the health risks plastic poses.
What I found in all my research is that some plastics tend to be less of a risk than others. You may have heard of the term BPA which was a huge focus in the news for a long time. It made a lot of parents concerned when news of its health affects surfaced. BPA is found in some types of plastic and was/is used in baby bottles and other products designed for babies and children which is especially concerning. This is a link to the mayo clinic's website with information on BPA. It seems to be general consensus that plastic type #1 is of little risk but should only be used once account of chemicals leaching out after some time and that plastic types #3,6, and 7 should be avoided as much as possible. For more information on chemical leaching, health risks, and which plastics to avoid most visit this link to world public union.
Hopefully this clears up some recycling questions and plastic wonders for all of you. I have a lot of great plastic-alternative products I will share with you all in a later post. As always, if you have a question or something to share, please feel free to leave a comment or message me! Thanks!
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