How to Know Your Plastics

Knowing Your Plastics

Most plastics can be recycled, but they have to be separated into their different polymer types. However, because of the difficulty and expense of sorting, collecting, cleaning and reprocessing, it is currently only economically viable to recycle PETE and HDPE.

The symbols used to identify the type of plastic is a code which consists of arrows that cycle clockwise to form a rounded triangle enclosing a number, often with an acronym representing the plastic below the triangle. Contrary to misconceptions, the number does not indicate how hard the item is to recycle, nor how often the plastic was recycled. It's an arbitrary number and has no other meaning aside from identifying the specific plastic. When the number is omitted, the symbol is known as the universal Recycling Symbol, indicating generic recyclable materials. In this case, other text and labels are used to indicate the materials used.

It is also important to note that some recent scientific research has been published which explains some of the potential dangers of certain plastics. Most people think that all plastics are the same but there are many different types of plastics and some of them may be harmful after extended or prolonged use. The label on the bottom of the plastic product is an indicator for what type of plastic the product is made of. Some of these scientific studies claim that certain types of plastic products could be harmful to you because the product is made with Bisphenol-A(BPA).

Plastics Numbers (Resin identification code, SPI resin identification coding system)

#1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) - The use of PET is seen mainly in soda, water and sport drink bottles. It can also be used to make other food containers and trays. It is advised to only use these bottles and products once and then to dispose of them by recycling. These products are safe to use because they are not made with BPA. The only warning with these products is that they do contain other chemicals that can be released when the product is heated, such as in a microwave oven.

#2 HDPE (high-density polyethylene) - HDPE can be used for multiple products. The most common products are food containers like Tupperware or milk containers. HDPE can even be seen in snowboarding boxes and rails. These products are made from the same components as PET they are just made to be stronger but have all the same warnings and cautions. Only use the product once. Do not heat the product because it may leak certain chemicals.

#3 PVC or V (Polyvinyl chloride) - PVC can be found in some toys, clear food packaging and plumbing pipes. Since this is a vinyl product it does contain some chemical additives that control the density of the product. These chemical additives have been known to leak out and cause dangerous affects. PVC can also contain BPA.

#4 LDPE (low-density polyethylene) - LDPE is made in to many types of bags for food packaging. LDPE does not contain any BPA so it does not pose a risk to consumers.

#5 PP (polypropylene) - PP is a plastic that is used for food containers like margarine and can also be made to be clear for food packaging as well. Another use for PP is in cold and warm weather clothing. There is no BPA in PP so it does not pose a risk to the consumer.

#6 PS (polystyrene) - PS is one of the most commonly used plastics. When it is made to be solid it can be seen in the production of CD cases and eating utensils. In its expanded for it forms what is referred to as Styrofoam. There are countless uses for Styrofoam and is seen almost everywhere. PS does not contain any BPA but is know to contain other chemicals that are known by the EPA to be a carcinogen in humans.

#7 (other) - All other plastics are put into the last category. The potential harm with type 7 plastics is that PC (polycarbonate) is one of the plastics lumped into this category. PC and some other plastics that are labeled with a 7 cab be made from BPA. This type of plastic can pose the greatest risk to consumers. Another issue with these plastics is that when they are heated they can leak out BPA at about 55 times faster.

Locating the Label

Locating the label on the plastics is very important so that you know what type of plastic you have or could potentially be purtchasing. For most products finding the label is as simple as looking at the bottom of the container. The number is located inside the recycling symbol which is three arrows that form a triangle. However, some products are not as clearly labeled. For these products the label might be located in a different location or it might not even be present. If this is the case the best answer to your question can be sought out by asking a representative of the company that manufactures the product.

In Conclusion

All plastics are different and contain chemicals that can potentially be dangerous to consumers. There is a numbering system to help with identifying types of plastic which is outlined above. Not all plastics are dangerous but some do contain BPA. The types of plastic that contain BPA are types 3 and 7. Type 6 does not contain BPA but does contain other chemicals that are known to be a carcinogen in humans.