Groxie

Lately I have become obsessed with plastic. What number is it? Can I recycle it? Is it safe for me to put it in the microwave? And so on. Some things I have learned:

1. Plastic has a small number on it somewhere, surrounded by three little arrows that look like (but definitely are not) the reduce-reuse-recycle arrows.
2. Most municipalities only recycle #1 and #2 plastic.
3. All of the different plastics, 1—7, are used in different kinds of food packaging.
4. Plastics 3, 6, and 7 all leach chemicals into the foods they contact—so obviously we should try to avoid these.
5. That isn’t exactly true, since new corn plastics are also currently categorized as #7, but most of these are labeled as a corn plastic.

So, how can we put this information to work for us? First of all, you need to know what each number really means.

Only sorta bad

Plastic 1 and 2 aren’t great, but they’re better than the others. They are recyclable most places, and they don’t have major chemical leaching issues. It is not recommended that you refill them, though—safe for single use.

Plastic 4 isn’t too bad, and it’s not used very often. Grocery bags are usually 4, and I’ll go over some great tips to cut down on these next time. Many grocery stores also have a recycling program for their bags, but you’re mostly out of luck trying to recycle other plastic 4 items.

Plastic 5 is used all over the place, from yogurt containers to straws to baby bottles. Lots of storage like Rubbermaid is also plastic 5. This stuff isn’t really recyclable. Does it make sense that a “disposable” yogurt container is made from the same plastic that our non-disposable Rubbermaid container is?

Really, really ridiculously bad

Plastic 3 is bad from start to finish. Its manufacturing process releases dioxin (carcinogen!) into the air, contaminating nearby water and land. Lead is sometimes added to stabilize it, and it can leach (di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate). You can tell from the name it’s bad news, specifically, it’s carcinogenic.

Plastic 6 is polystyrene—another big bad. It leaches styrene which can really screw up your brain and nervous system. Used mostly in styrofoam type products.

Most bottled beverage containers are 1, so they’re usually recyclable. But some are 7, and that is very bad. Plastic 7 (the very same that those popular sport water bottles are made of) leaches a hormone—like chemical (bisphenol a) that could be carcinogenic. Don’t risk it—choose a different container!

So now what?

It’s overwhelming I know, but I’ll go over some easy solutions for cutting down on the plastics in your home next time. In the meantime, check out this very helpful guide to plastics from Environmental Observatory. Don’t get me wrong, I recognize that plastics serve some very important functions, but I think it’s equally important for you to know what you are spending your money on and sacrificing your health for!

Update: Tips for reducing plastic use are now here.