Latest On Washing and Reusing of Plastic Bottles & New Use

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Everyday in my life I think about should I use the plastic or not? On environmental viewpoint it has been recommended for years that we reuse plastic food containers as many times as possible because they don't biodegrade. After doing some research in the web I have founds this information.

From many web sources I have found that Plastics # 1, 2, 4, and 5 are safer and are not known to leach chemicals when we use them. Let use see what are these different kinds of plastics are:

1 PET, PETE (water and soda bottles, food jars and microwaveable food trays)

 

Plastic #1 is one of the most common and highly recycled resins.

Most curbside programs will accept this plastic in bottle form.

Plastic #1 is also the main resin targeted with container deposit laws, also called bottle bills.

 

#2 HDPE (plastic bags, milk jugs, detergent bottles, water and soda bottles)

 

Recycled plastic #2 contents can be found in plastic lumber, buckets and crates, bottles for non-food items (shampoo, detergent, motor oil) and even curbside recycling bins themselves.

 

#3 PVC (blister packs, clamshell containers, bags, pipes, some building materials)

 

PVC is not commonly recycled or recyclable, nor is it biodegradable.

More than 7 billion pounds of PVC are thrown away in the U.S. annually, and only 18 million pounds – barely one-quarter of 1 percent – is recycled.

 

#4 LDPE (bags, shrink wrap, coating for paper milk cartons and beverage cups, container lids, squeezable bottles)

 

Because plastic #4 is often in film form, it is sometimes not accepted in curbside recycling programs.

Its material is similar to plastic bags, and some major grocery store chains will accept this plastic packaging for recycling.

#5 PP (bottle caps, medicine bottles, yogurt cups)

 

Polypropylene has a good chemical resistance, a high melting point and is a strong material.

It’s ideal for reusable food containers and other packaging that requires durability. But while this resin is as common as a ketchup bottle, it’s still often left out of curbside programs.

 

#6 PS (takeout containers, foam packaging, packing peanuts, CD cases)

 

While most curbside programs do not accept plastic #6 or EPS, there are several community programs that will recycle the material.

If there are no programs that fit your specific needs or are near your location, AFPR offers a mail-in program for consumers.

 

#7 other (bio-based plastics made from corn, potato or sugar derivatives, 3- and 5-gallon reusable water bottles)

 

Plastic #7 -the catch-all category for those plastic products that do not fit into 1-6.

These plastics are multi-layered combinations of more than one plastic resin. These food storage containers use polycarbonate, which has been shown to leach the harmful hormone-disrupting chemical Bisphenol a (BPA) into food items after repeated uses. Consumers concerned about such risks might want to avoid the some polycarbonate-based Tupperware products e.g. Rock N Serve microwave line, the Meals-in-Minutes Micro steamer & the Tupperware baby bottle.

 

Most Tupperware products are made of LDPE or PP, and as such are considered safe for repeated use storing food items and cycling through the dishwasher. Most food storage products from Glad, Hefty, Ziploc and Saran also pass The Green Guide's muster for health safety.

I have found two studies related to re-use of plastic.Both studies finds that we should not use them.

Study 1-The Canadian study shows that reused water bottles carried by youngsters at an elementary school were contaminated with bacteria, including fecal coliforms. Researchers speculated that the bacteria came from the hands and mouths of the children and speculated that the kids probably didn't wash their hands very often and that the bottles weren't being washed at home frequently. Results of the study were published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health and school officials in the Calgary town where the study was conducted advised parents to make sure that the bottles were brought home and washed properly and frequently. The other study looked at what could happen if you do wash plastic water bottles well enough to kill bacteria. Here, researchers found that frequent washing might accelerate the break-down of the plastic, possibly causing harmful chemicals to leach into the water or other beverages in the bottles. One of the chemicals the researchers identified was the carcinogen DEHA, suspected of causing cancer in humans. The water and soft drink bottles studied are made of a plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and are intended for single use, but researchers said that reuse is widespread and that some people hold onto the bottles for months, sometimes until they begin to leak. The Canadian Bottled Water Association has advised against reuse and urged that plastic bottles be recycled after a single use.

Study 2 - University of Nebraska addresses the health effects of reusing plastic containers. They said, while some items should not be used with foods, others should be used only ONCE, and then for their intended purpose. For example, USDA states that Plastic wrap; foam meat trays, convenience food dishes, and egg cartons have been approved for a specific use and should be considered one-time-use packaging. Bacteria from foods that these packages once contained may remain on the packaging and thus be able to contaminate foods or even hands if reused.

Here are some items that were developed with the intention of single use include:

Single-use plastic water bottles

It is better to buy a reusable water bottle and use that instead of reusing a bottle in which water is sold. The plastic water bottles in which water is sold are intended for single service. They are hard to clean and dry and are not meant for multiple cleanings.

Disposable plastic utensils, cups and containers

This category includes plastic forks, spoons and knives; plastic cups; and containers from cottage cheese, sour cream, chip dip, margarine, milk, etc. These items are not made of materials designed for repeated use or repeated cleaning with hot soap and water. Cups and containers may have edges that curl over and collect bacteria that cannot be cleaned out. These containers are developed for specific types/temperatures of foods and may not stand up to all foods, such as high acid and/or hot foods.

Single-use wooden items

Some wooden food-related items, such as Popsicle sticks and shish kabob skewers, are intended for one-time use. If you want to reuse shish kabob sticks, buy the metal ones. Rather than reuse Popsicle sticks, purchase one of the containers for making popsicles that comes with reusable handles.

Lids with non-cleanable liners

Glass jars can be cleaned and reused; however you must be careful of reusing the lids. Lids with a non-cleanable liner, such as a waxed cardboard liner, should not be re-used.

Find a New Use for all kind of Plastic Stuff

Water Bottles

1. Scoop-Cut off the bottom of a plastic water bottle in such a way to form a scoop. You can use this in the garden as a way to scoop up compost or potting soil.

2. Plant starting containers -Cut off the top third of plastic water bottles and you have great planting pots. Punch a hole or two in the bottom for drainage. These make great plant starting containers.

3. Use as a funnel. -Use the top portion of a water bottle as a funnel. Just turn it upside down and take off the bottle cap.

Milk Jugs

1. Hand weights- Fill half gallon plastic jugs with sand. Weigh to see how heavy the weight will be and mark container with a Sharpee pen. Hold on to the handles and lift! Make several pair of hand weights: 5 lb., 8 lb, and 10lb.

2. Make party night decoration: Cut off the top below the handle. Fill 1/3 full with sand. Place a candle in the container and light. Place along a sidewalk for a pretty party night decoration.

3. Storage-Use gallon size containers to store sugar, coffee, etc.

4. Toilet brush holder: Use the bottom of a gallon size milk jug to hold a toilet brush in the bathroom.

Butter Containers

1. Hold spare change-. Use a butter container with a lid to hold spare change.

2. Use For lunch boxes-Butter containers with lids can be used to hold foods in lunch boxes: fruits like grapes, berries, or boiled eggs work well.

3. Sewing essential Storage -Make a sewing kit with a large butter tub. Place needles, thread and other sewing essential inside.

Conclusion: It is good of an idea reuse plastic containers is for the environment, from a health perspective, it's a better idea to use glass to store leftovers.