|
PLASTICS SCHMASTICS!!?:
when to reuse, recycle or just plain throw away
 So
we all know that plastics play a huge role in all of
our lives, whether we like it or not. It is the
container we store our food in, the bottle we drink
our water out of and the bag that keeps those
veggies fresh and crispy in the fridge – but as
useful as plastics are in so many ways, did you know
that some of them can be harmful to your health???
While it is always important to REUSE & RECYCLE in
life… the advice does not always apply to plastics.
So let’s break this plastics thing down a little,
shall we?
 There
are basically 7 different types of plastic used, and
each type of plastic has its identification number
imprinted somewhere on it. You know the recycling
logo on the bottom of bottles with the number
inside? That’s it!
Now the most commonly recycled plastics are usually
numbers 1 and 2 (sometimes 4 & 5 depending where you
live). Examples of some #1 plastics are water & soda
bottles. Examples of some #2 plastics are milk jugs,
toys & shampoo bottles. Now not only are these two
types of plastic the easiest to recycle – they’re
also the safest to eat or drink out of!
 Soooo
what about all the rest of the numbers, you ask?
Well here’s the deal. The rest of the plastics: #3,
#6 & #7 are plastics you should avoid – especially
if they are used to package food! That is because
these plastics contain certain chemicals with long
and complicated names that can make you sick or
worse! Most of them cant be recycled anyway so don’t
feel badly about throwing them away.
So if all this sounds a little complicated here’s a
break down to make things clear:
- Plastics to use once and then RECYCLE: #1
- Plastics to use once and then REUSE*: #2, #4
& #5
- Plastics to avoid altogether if you can: #3,
#6 & #7
* plastic fact – once a plastic has been reused a
couple times, becomes cloudy or smells like the
sandwich you ate out of it a month ago, its time to
send it to the recycling plant.
Be well greenies – Sarah
|
