<em>Illustration by Sofia Reeves</em>
Did you know that the plastics we use every day are divided into seven categories? This is important because not all plastics are the same: some are safe while others are dangerous and detrimental to your health. You cannot use one umbrella term for all plastics.
The different groups of plastics are numbered from one to seven. These numbers are displayed within the recycle symbol on products. They are called the Resin Identification Code. Even though they may seem like mere numbers, they actually tell us a lot about the plastic we are using. When reading the article, please be aware that not all the products listed contain the plastic mentioned (for example not all pipes and children’s toys contain polyvinyl chloride) but those products are where the use of plastic is most prevalent. Decision-making within different companies affects the different kinds of plastics used. When in doubt, check the Resin Identification Code. Additionally, the recycling policies change depending on the city and the countries we live in, so it is best to do some research about recycling in our region. I am certainly not someone who studies this, but I have been careful with how these different numbers affect my life in the last year and I wanted to share what I know with others.
Plastic #1
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET/PETE) is one of the most commonly used plastics. It is in water, salad dressing, oil and mouthwash bottles, as well as the plastic cups you get in the Bon. PET plastic is relatively safe, but exposure to heat can make them toxic. Hence, they are single-use plastic. Although it is easy to recycle, according to the World Wildlife Fund, the life cycle of PET plastic is 450 years, so when improperly recycled, it releases “toxic chemicals into the environment and (is) likely to be ingested by vulnerable marine life.”
Plastic #2
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used in the dairy products we consume like yogurt tubs, milk jugs, detergents and other cleaning products. It is even in some plastic bags, pipes, children’s toys, sunbeds and chairs. It is much more resistant to heat and does well in cold temperatures, and has a low risk of leaching. Biomass Packaging defines leaching as “a transfer or leaking of chemicals from the plastic to the foods or beverages it contains.” According to Ali Chamas, a University of California, Santa Barbara chemist, degradation of HDPE in the marine environment can last from 50 years (as with plastic bags) to 1200 years (as with HDPE pipes). Both PET/PETE and HDPE can be recycled around 10 times. However, HDPE is much safer for the environment than PET/PETE.
Plastic #3
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC/V) can be found in credit cards, pipes, windows, shower curtains and, sadly, food wraps and children’s toys. PVC is highly toxic and carcinogenic. It has negative impacts on the liver, central nervous system and cardiovascular system, even leading to cancer in various parts of the body. PVC/C is rarely recycled and harmful to the environment.
Plastic #4
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE/PE-LD) is present in bread wrapping, squeezable bottles, shopping bags and frozen food bags. Like HDPE, it is safer to use, but most LDPE is not recycled and is considered non-biodegradable. However, research is expanding on the microbial degradation of LDPE using different microorganisms is found to be a viable option.
Plastic #5
Polypropylene (PP) is used in disposable diapers, yogurt containers, chip bags and kitchenware. PP is safe to reuse and to store food in because it is durable, has a high resistance to heat, and does not absorb moisture. Most PP does not get recycled, but it is possible to recycle it like other plastics. Degradation of PP is hard and mostly takes place under high temperatures.
Plastic #6
Polystyrene (PS) can be found in styrofoam cups, some straws, food containers, egg cartons and the coffee lids used at Maggie’s. It is very pervasive because it is cheap, but it is quite unhealthy due to its toxic nature when it comes to contact with heat. It is best to drink your coffee from a ceramic or glass cup or put your noodles into a bowl before you add boiling water. Recycling PS is demanding as it is toxic to the environment and resistant to degradation in nature.
Plastic #7
All other kinds of plastics used in products fall into category seven. Although some are safe, like the plastics in Tupperware products, many of the plastics in this category are highly toxic. One of the most toxic chemicals that we tend to hear of in this group is bisphenol A (BPA), which can cause a wide range of health problems, including breast cancer. Governments try to restrict the use of products containing BPA but it can still be found in some sports water bottles, sippy cups, baby pacifiers and other non-plastic products like cash register receipts. Some of these plastics can be recycled while others cannot, and even though there might be exceptions, most are toxic and harmful to the environment.
The bottom line is: be aware of the health implications of the plastics you use. Avoid PVC, polystyrene and others that belong to the seventh category. If you use products with low-density polyethylene or polypropylene make sure that you use them more than once. If you use plastics that are neither PET nor high-density polyethylene, take them to places where it is possible to recycle them, as curbside recycling services do not generally recycle them.
We all need to learn more about recycling as there are nuances. Just because a product is recyclable does not mean it is recycled. We should also bear in mind certain requirements for different materials when we recycle. Make sure you wash plastics before you throw them in the recycle and learn what goes in the bin. For instance, the City of Portland does not accept plastic bags, plastic caps and lids or plastic take-out food containers, among other things.
For more information on other types of recyclable and non-recyclable materials, check portland.gov or any other governmental website that gives information about recycling in your region or city.
This article presents opinions held by the author, not those of The Pioneer Log and its editorial board.
About the Author
Thanks for the info about recycling. My friend wants to recycle materials sitting in his garage. I’ll share this info about recycling with him later today.